The New York Times reports on the growth of the Taliban movement in northwestern Pakistan, with details reminiscent of The Kite Runner:
One of the first targets of the Taliban are usually criminals with whom they often fashion a symbiotic relationship, officials here said. Often the Taliban attack criminals and in that way increase their social standing with local people.
And then to win favor with the Taliban, the criminals grow their hair and their beards, and join forces with the militants, they said. In this way, the criminals get protection from the militants for the money they give to the Taliban from their extortion rackets…
Abduction of young boys has also become common in Hayatabad: in the last few weeks a dozen boys have been snatched by militants demanding that they become jihadists rather than sit idly at home, said Masood Afridi, a doctor who lives there.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting this morning a “major” Pakistani military assault on Taliban positions. I’m fairly skeptical about how major this will be, given the cooperation between the Taliban and elements of Pakistan’s military and intelligence forces. Once again, though, it seems the decision not to finish off Al Qaeda and the Taliban back in 2001 and 2002, seems to be coming back to haunt us.