Whether the Western press, or the foreign policy establishment, want to admit it or not, the Taliban are not one-dimensional and they are not alien to Afghanistan.
I must admit, watching the nightly news all steeped in the language of catastrophe and crisis, I've wondered if I exist in an alternate reailty.
Given the long, horrifying history of imperial and colonial withdrawal/collapse, I'm wondering why noone is pointing that a largely peaceful transfer of power is a good thing.
Great article. I've seen even leftists say that the taliban enjoys no popular support (citing like one poll) and that idea was just laughable to me. These things are much more nuanced and this articulates my thoughts in a way I really couldn't up until now
Thanks a lot. I haven't read all of Gopal's latest for the New Yorker, but he seems to be making some similar points: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/09/13/the-other-afghan-women. A key quote: "When I asked Shakira and other women from the valley to reflect on Taliban rule, they were unwilling to judge the movement against some universal standard—only against what had come before."
This is one of the best takes I’ve read on the whole issue. Thanks for writing it, Alex.
Thanks for reading!
Finally!!!
I must admit, watching the nightly news all steeped in the language of catastrophe and crisis, I've wondered if I exist in an alternate reailty.
Given the long, horrifying history of imperial and colonial withdrawal/collapse, I'm wondering why noone is pointing that a largely peaceful transfer of power is a good thing.
So cheers for that.
Very pleased to have read this, thanks!
Great article. I've seen even leftists say that the taliban enjoys no popular support (citing like one poll) and that idea was just laughable to me. These things are much more nuanced and this articulates my thoughts in a way I really couldn't up until now
Thanks a lot. I haven't read all of Gopal's latest for the New Yorker, but he seems to be making some similar points: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/09/13/the-other-afghan-women. A key quote: "When I asked Shakira and other women from the valley to reflect on Taliban rule, they were unwilling to judge the movement against some universal standard—only against what had come before."