But what's your position on opium?

October 2, 2001 11:22 AM

But what's your position on opium?
The Islamic State of Afghanistan wants US citizens to learn the difference between them and the Taleban, and has posted some friendly e-mails they've received. Of course its conventional wisdom that the NA are our best allies in quashing the Taleban---and afghangovernment.org reflects this oversimplification.
posted by rschram (8 comments total)

Is the Northern Alliance really the US's best ally ("Our enemy attacked us," Lalsaid said. "I had to join.")? This has got to be more complicated than we think. Do we have other options than this?
posted by rschram at 11:22 AM on October 2, 2001

My position?

Prostrated before a smoking pipe of it!
posted by preguicoso at 11:34 AM on October 2, 2001

Both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance have a lot of blood on their hands. And don't be surprised if the NA gets control over Afghanistan and you see... women walking about in full burqas. I don't know what the Afghan people - a proud, beautiful people with a rich history and culture - did to deserve all of these thugs, on top of Russian and British colonialism. How sad.
posted by laz-e-boy at 12:59 PM on October 2, 2001

Wait a second. Aren't the Northern Alliance and the Islamic State of Afghanistan different groups?
posted by mrbula at 1:26 PM on October 2, 2001

No mrbula you're thinking of the People's Front of Afghanistan.
posted by geoff. at 2:13 PM on October 2, 2001

Where's the Afghan Popular Front?
posted by Fley Mingmasc at 2:21 PM on October 2, 2001

I agree with laz-e-boy. You don't want the Northern Alliance running post Taliban Afghanistan...they're just as ruthless. Plus, who said they'd made a good governing body...the country needs some sort of social democracy
posted by malmec at 3:15 PM on October 2, 2001

"Peace & Democracy","Freedom loving people"...In what ISLAMIC STATE do those principles/people exist?
posted by Mack Twain at 4:19 PM on October 2, 2001