Why The Tribes Are Turning On The Taliban -- A Commentary From The Strategy Page

From The Strategy Page:

October 30, 2008: Pakistan and Afghanistan have gathered many of the most powerful and influential tribal leaders from along Pushtun tribes that live on both sides of the border, to discuss Islamic terrorism (the Taliban and al Qaeda) and the current Pakistani offensive against the Islamic radicals. Apparently the two governments are trying to convince the tribes that, while the tribes may support the religious agenda the Islamic radicals are pushing, if they want to continue to run their own internal affairs, they'd best support the government, because the "foreigners" will surely undermine tribal authority in all matters, not just religious orthodoxy.

The Pushtun tribes have been defending their independence and primitive lifestyle for centuries. But throughout the 20th century, and especially the last few decades, the modern world has been making serious inroads. Portable generators, satellite links, iPods, laptop computers and television have made changes. There's a culture war going on, between the traditionalists (who tend to be religious) and the modernists (who tend to be less religious, and more ready to party). But everyone likes to use the new technology, and the money that the heroin trade has brought in over the last quarter century. The Taliban and al Qaeda are popular because these Islamic fundamentalists want to turn back the clock. Automatic weapons computers and cell phones are useful, but the iPods and televisions have to go. What has made the Islamic radicals everyone's enemy is their desire to roll back the political clock. While the region was never part of a worldwide Islamic caliphate, that sort of religious dictatorship, run by stern and learned clerics, is seen as the solution to so many problems by the Taliban and al Qaeda.

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