[neverdem]

We should be entirely clear - that means large portions of the Afghan population and probably clear majorities of it, will always view the governments we can live with as traitors and lackies of the west.

The Taliban are not popular, and it's largely confined to the Pushtuns/Pashtu, a minorty, albeit the largest minority.

[JasonC]

Agreed. But anti-western sentiment is popular, and Islam is even more popular. Most of those who want to drive foreigners out of the country and live according to Islam, just *also* want to rule their own corner of the country themselves, in every case - not have some turbaned goon funded from Pakistan or worse, ordering them around and shooting people for not washing their hands "correctly" or holding hands in public.