Peace-Loving, Forgivingly Orderly Taliban

From viewing the Taliban as Afghanistan's most dread threat to human sanctity of life and human rights, to regarding them more latterly as representing a religious-political movement with whom it will be necessary to arrive at a co-ordinated accord, the government of Afghanistan and that of the United States and NATO itself, now regard it as a potential partner in governing the country.

It's not that the Taliban are any less the threat to ordinary Afghans and most particularly women, than they were eleven years ago when NATO forces invaded to rout them and their special al-Qaeda friends. It's more than in that almost-eleven years of rescue-and-dispatch, it has become increasingly obvious to NATO and the UN that the historical invasions that failed back in the 18th and 19th Centuries, and the more recent Russian one did not represent anomalies.

Actually, what those invasions represented was the reality, in living colour of acres drenched with blood, that this is an unconquerable landscape, its people skilled in guerrilla warfare, xenophobic to an ultra degree, where corruption and oppression live handily together and powerful and wealthy warlords aligned to tribal and sectarian loyalties rule the land.

"Though the Taliban suffered severely in 2011, its strength, motivation, funding and tactical proficiency remain intact. In the last year, there has been unprecedented interest, even from [Afghan government] members, in joining the insurgent cause. Afghan civilians frequently prefer Taliban governance over [the Afghan government], usually as a result of government [corruption]."

This, from a recently unveiled NATO study. A study which also pointed out the well-publicized secrets relating to Pakistan's involvement with the Taliban: "senior Taliban representatives, such as Nasiruddin Haqqani [deputy head of the Haqqani Network], maintain residences in the immediate vicinity of [Pakistan's intelligence agency] ISI headquarters in Islamabad".

And to clarify matters further, leaving no shadow of a doubt: "Pakistan knows everything. They control everything. I can't [expletive] on a tree in Kunar without them watching", according to a senior al-Qaeda detainee questioned for the report. "The Taliban are not Islam. The Taliban are Islamabad." Just in case anyone had any remaining doubts.

But despite this being a tell-all NATO report, NATO officials still cling to the notion that they've been successful in their endeavour to weaken and disempower the Taliban. Canada lost 158 Canadian soldiers, with 2,000 wounded. There remain in the country 950 military trainers in Kabul, until 2014, the final withdrawal date for Canada. To the U.S.'s newly-declared 2013.

American military officers were also quoted in the document, claiming that the Taliban's "strength, motivation, funding and tactical proficiency remains intact. Many Afghans are already bracing themselves for an eventual return of the Taliban." And Afghan President Hamid Karzai's own members of government are preparing to co-operate with, even join the Taliban.

There are growing reports of "outright co-ordination, equipment transfers, intelligence sharing, occasionally even the incorporation of Afghan security forces in Taliban operations." What an amazing turn of events, right? "The vehicles and weapons were once only acquired on the battlefield. They are now regularly sold or donated by the Afghan security forces", to the Taliban.

These are weapons, vehicles and other resources supplied by NATO countries in their charitable desire to advance the cause of Afghanistan, in becoming a normal country, one with democratic credentials, which would recognize the equality of Afghan women, and educate all children, boys and girls equally, and permit women to join the workforce should they wish to.

And, then too, also denied by the governments of NATO-involved countries which sacrificed military personnel and treasury to the country: despite billions spent by Western governments on training and equipping the country's security forces, they are steadily and covertly ceding territory without battle, and even joining forces with the Taliban.

Still, give the Government of Canada credit; they're not completely without understanding of the situation. A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the government "remains deeply skeptical" of the Taliban's motives in establishing an office abroad to advance peace and co-operation consultations.

"The Taliban did not indicate that they are ready to renounce violence, respect the Afghan constitution, including women's rights, and sever ties with al-Qaeda or other terrorist organizations." Nor will they.