At 01:36 AM 22-10-01, Karl Carlile wrote: >Conditions are such in Afghanistan that the only basis for unity is the >army and >religion. [cut] In many ways there is no Afghan society. >Indeed in so far as Afghan society exists it is constituted by the >Taliban state >which chiefly consists of the Islamic fundamentalist army of the Taliban.[cut] >The Taliban army's Islamic fundamentalist character invests its soldiers >with a >passionate drive that renders them fearless in the face of the enemy. In >many ways >the Taliban is analogous to Cromwell's Roundheads.
Like Jim Devine I find this analysis useful, but I don't accept the last sentence. Yes, the despotism, enforced minimalism and absolutism of the Taliban may be inevitable given the poverty and ignorance in which they live, but I think that background should be described as medieval rather than 16th-century. In Cromwell's day there were complex governance functions at various levels. Cromwell defeated some rebel tribes (Ireland) but reached agreement with the northern alliance (Scotland); achieved naval equality with one superpower (Holland) and good relations with another (France); brought the main public enemy to a public trial; and permitted Jews to live in England again. Michael Yaffey
