American Taliban
I don’t know what the Taliban is, really. From my limited knowledge, they are a hodgepodge group of fundamental extremists trying to take over their country. They seek to overthrow their government or at least reduce its influence so that it has very little control or power over the Taliban’s interests – which seem to be guns, money, and religion. The Taliban seeks to destabilize and upset the nation so that the people living in it actually turn toward them as a the solution rather than view them as the enemy.
No doubt many members of the Taliban are sincere and even well-meaning people. They may be desperately poor, utterly convinced that their religious values and traditions are under attack, and they may view themselves as the holders of a sacred truth. Many members joined out of great fear as they listened to the leaders, who frightened them with lies and distortions, but who frightened them out of their wits nonetheless. In any event, they now have lay claim to fundamental doctrines that they will die and kill for.
I suspect as well that the Taliban leadership may use their own members’ religious fundamentalism in deeply cynical ways to exert political influence, maintain access to huge financial benefits, create fear, and promote their own interests that are in direct contradiction to the interests of the most sincere and passionate common member.
Who are these guys? Obviously, I’m talking about the Tea Party.