[Snicker'sMom]

Taliban may think that by withdrawing they will spare the Afghan civilian population from feeling this wrath. Indeed the local leaders may have insisted upon this withdrawal for the civilians' sake.

I disagree on this point. I don't think the Taliban give a flip about the civilians in Afghanistan. If there is some sort of large attack on the US planned, the Taliban would simply slither off into the rocks to save their own skins. I don't think they'd give much thought to the civilians.

[cgbg]

taliban may think

At this time they are not thinking. Many of their leaders are dead. Some are in hiding without communications. And the rest are so busy with their necks strained looking over their shoulder for U.S. Rangers dressed up as Pashtun that they are speechless and terrified.

There is no Taliban strategy and shortly there will be no Taliban.

Now, the terrorist network is another matter entirely. They are in many nations and have sleepers in place in the United States that could act at any time with or without orders.

But the Taliban--they are toast.

[cake_crumb]

"I don't think the Taliban give a flip about the civilians in Afghanistan. If there is some sort of large attack on the US planned, the Taliban would simply slither off into the rocks to save their own skins. I don't think they'd give much thought to the civilians."

Right. They weren't too interested in the safety of the civilians when they were killing them before.