Stardate 20011113.0708 (On Screen): In some ways I actually feel sorry for the Taliban's ambassador Zaeef. He has a thankless job, especially now. (But I don't feel too sorry for him.) In response to the wholesale collapse of the Taliban military, he claims that "The Islamic army of the Taliban withdrew from these provinces in an organized way to avoid civilian casualties." Let's be frank here: he's lying. There was no organized withdrawal; this was a rout. Second, he doesn't mention all the warlords who changed sides -- did the Taliban order them to do this? Third, the Taliban have shown no particular sign until now that they give a damn about the well-being of civilians; it's difficult to believe that they would decide to abandon half the country for that reason. Ambassador Zaeef is looking at a military catastrophe, and he
has to say
something. Too bad for him that in the face of a disaster of this magnitude there's really no bright spot he can focus on.
(discuss)
