There are some in the political and social arena who have a misguided perception that the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan can be and should be included in a negotiated settlement for Afghanistan.
This isn't the time for a comparison of the Taliban to Hitler or the Afghan War to the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War eventually evolved into a war of liberation, and the North Vietnamese were never theologically driven in their policies. Too, Hitler would have never destroyed national treasures.
Would he steal national treasures? Sure he did, but he would never have attempted to destroy with field artillery a 900-foot statue of Buddha carved into a mountain that was thousands of years old.
The Taliban cannot be negotiated with. These people throw acid in the face of women who don't wear veils. They don't believe in educating girls, and believe they are enforcing the will of God.
Most of the leaders of the Taliban aren't even from Afghanistan, but have infiltrated the country from neighboring countries - following a dogmatic fundamentalist religious belief. Whether in a Christian country, or an Islamic country, people like this can only be dealt with by force.
I don't condone force, but there are times that no other alternative is available. I'm sorry, but this is a fact. A rattlesnake doesn't like to be cuddled. The Taliban cannot be negotiated with.
Stephen Durham (freethinker1963@yahoo.com)