To: Paleo Conservative
"Also, the Taliban was just one of several factions that the US supported through Pakistan". What I've heard -- correct me if I'm wrong -- was that there were many more moderate groups that we could have supported, but someone noticed that the more radical the groups, the more effective they were and so eventually military aid got directed towards the most radical elements, who then took control over more moderate groups once the Soviets withdrew.
To: ConsistentLibertarian
"Also, the Taliban was just one of several factions that the US supported through Pakistan". What I've heard -- correct me if I'm wrong -- was that there were many more moderate groups that we could have supported, but someone noticed that the more radical the groups, the more effective they were and so eventually military aid got directed towards the most radical elements, who then took control over more moderate groups once the Soviets withdrew. Part of the strategy in Afghanistan was to make the Soviets fear Islamic fundamentalists expanding beyond Afghanistan to the Islamic dominated republics of the Soviet Union.
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