Re: Islam vs Taliban....
The issue is quite simple ...
In Ireland there is a group called the IRA when their political wing began to sort things out they had a break away group who called themselves the real IRA who continued causing strife.
A similar problem has occurred with the Taleban. The Taleban has reached critical mass and is not responsible for the actions of all of its claimants. Some areas like in Pakistan the Pakhtun Tribal Tyrrants are using the Taleban name to gain leverage and power. The struggle in Pakistan has always been one of tribe against Pak army and today this has not changed but just changed labels.
Brother Crescent I agree with ...
The tribes chiefs call themselves Taleban for their own reasons and everyone else who is secular agree with their claims as Taleban in order to portray Islam in bad light. The sincere followers of the Taleban ideology either do not exist or subdued by these tyrrants as much as anyone else in that region.
The Taleban was always doomed, because it was a condensation of lay persons who took on elite roles. Scholars and leaders groomed for leadership are required and a supporting body to facilitate the Islamic law were required. Instead people who associated themselves with Taleban were later causing fitnah and crimes with the power they had.
A reporter from the UK came back from Afghanistan to say that people are regularly switching alliances in that region based on who promises more. So you can see straight away it is not an ideology that people join rather a club for power and protection.