[MMike]

...what is the difference between the Taliban and Al Qaeda?

Wasn't the latter the "gov't" in Afghanistan until recently? Then I thought the Taliban was Bin Laden's gang. Are they one in the same? One is a subset of the other? One is merely a holding corporation created for tax purposes?

 

[Toshi]

interesting question. here's the best i could come up with, as i don't know the answer myself

http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/11/11/ret.us.afghanistan/

not quite relevant but still interesting in this forum:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77046,00.html

finally, http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/sasia/afghan/text/0224myers1.htm

The difference between a normal Afghani citizen and Taliban is just razor thin. In fact, they can change — they can change their allegiances very, very quickly. The same is true for some al Qaeda as well.

so i guess no one knows, even the state dept.

 

[ohio]

I thought Taliban referred to the general beliefs and Al Qaeda is the organization. Like the difference in the US between Conservative and Republican.... that's just a guess though based on the way it reads in the news. I've never seen it defined.

 

[derekbob]

Im pretty sure the Taliban was the ruling regime in Afganistan untill we invaded them, and Al Queda is the terrorist organization Bin Laden is affiliated with.

 

[zod]

Originally posted by derekbob
Im pretty sure the Taliban was the ruling regime in Afganistan untill we invaded them, and Al Queda is the terrorist organization Bin Laden is affiliated with.

he's got it...

 

[brenth]

Originally posted by derekbob
Im pretty sure the Taliban was the ruling regime in Afganistan untill we invaded them, and Al Queda is the terrorist organization Bin Laden is affiliated with.

ding ding ding.... your correct sir.

Al-qaeda is the world wide terrist org. that is resposible for evil **** all over the world.

The taliban was the governing group in afganistan that was sheltering Al-qaeda there. There are still elements of the taliban there and in pakistan that are still tring to regain the country. As far as I know they are only in that specific area.

Anybody know if the correct spelling is al-queda or al-qaeda? I've seen it both ways in te news.

 

[CRUM]

Originally posted by derekbob
Im pretty sure the Taliban was the ruling regime in Afganistan untill we invaded them, and Al Queda is the terrorist organization Bin Laden is affiliated with.

Actually, the Taliban is way more than just an ex ruling regime. The name Taliban has several meanings, but one widely used is "The Students of Islamic Knowledge". They have existed in Afghanistan from around the 7th century. Originally set up as schools to teach the Koran to the local population. The Taliban worked itself into the social and political web of the area when students and clerics were called upon to help with some of the mundane issues of an area. Public works, transportation, disputes between families, etc. Their rise as a political force mostly occurred as a result of their heavy involvement with the mujahideen when Russia invaded Afghanistan. Their rise to power peaked in the early 90's when they consolidated 90% of the country under one leader in 1994. It is in 1994 they showed up on our radar.

Al-Qaeda's beginnings are also traced back to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Many muslims from all over the World converged there to form the mujahideen to fight the Soviets. Osama Bin Laden , after going back to Saudia Arabia became really really pissed off when his government allowed US troops on Saudi soil during the first Iraq maddness. He was given the boot by Saudia Arabia for being too anti-government, so he moved to the Sudan and set up shop. He was booted from there in 1994 after the Saudi's and the US put pressure on Sudan. Moving to Afghanistan, he finally found a government that saw life essentially as he did.

Al-Qaeda means "The Base". Their stated goals are many, but the main thrust is to throw out all Americans and American influence from all muslim nations. They want to destroy Israel. As a final but nonetheless important goal, they want to topple all pro-western governments in the Middle East and form one Muslim nation which will adhere to the rules of the first Caliphs. The group is formed of Muslims who belive in Wahhabism, a radical twisting of the Sunni branch. They are oragnized into self contained cells who act and report independently.

To this end, in 1996, Osama declared war on the US. This was followed up in 1998 when he issued his Fatwa (religious decree). It stated that it was every Muslim's duty to declare war on America, Israel, and all that is Western. And if a Muslim does not heed his bidding they become "Apostates" - people who have forsken their faith. And they too become the enemy. Whew! Talk about "it's my way or the highway" kinda guy. Not a lot of flexibility there.

 

[golgiaparatus]

As I understand it the Taliban=Afghani gov't before we bombed the fuhk out of Afg-stan.

Al-Queda is a mostly anti american jihad organization run by Osama. I think the Taliban was allowing AQ to train on Af-Stan soil and also would not retain Osama for US questioning/custody after 9-11.

 

[llkoolkeg]

What the...!?!?!? A knowledgeable post!

How did it circumvent the filters?

 

[LordOpie]

Originally posted by llkoolkeg
What the...!?!?!? A knowledgeable post!

How did it circumvent the filters?

Crum kicks ass, plus, he's a 1337 h4><0r

 

[CRUM]

Originally posted by LordOpie
Crum kicks ass, plus, he's a 1337 h4><0r

Thanks, but it's just some regurgitation of info I have found here and there. After 911, I became obsessed with this issue. I am better now. I don't froth at the mouth and my food stays down. But I still have that irritating tick in my neck whenever I hear the word Taliban or Al Qaeda. And the doctors all tell me that the strait jacket will come off soon if I continue to progress so well. But I guess the real reason I am responding is what the heck does "1337 h4><0r" mean?

And MMike- It is not a stupid question. It's a question we need to know about. The West knows or cares very little about the roots of this maddness. But knowing where it started and why is an important tool in defeating it.

 

[LordOpie]

Originally posted by CRUM
Thanks, but it's just some regurgitation of info I have found here and there.

Isn't that most knowledge?

Originally posted by CRUM
...what the heck does "1337 h4><0r" mean?

elite hacker... geek-net-speak. You did, afterall, break thru the filters llkoolkeg mentioned.

 

[CRUM]

Originally posted by LordOpie
Isn't that most knowledge?


elite hacker... geek-net-speak. You did, afterall, break thru the filters llkoolkeg mentioned.

Yes, that is a definition of knowledge. But knowing the facts does not translate to understanding them. I struggle constantly to understand this issue.

And don't you just hate it when you have to explain the joke. But I was intriqued with the reference. Now I know and now I get it. Thanks.

 

[$tinkle]

Originally posted by LordOpie
Isn't that most knowledge?


elite hacker... geek-net-speak. You did, afterall, break thru the filters llkoolkeg mentioned.

before i imaged my machine yesterday, i deleted 1,337 cookies. No one here appreciated it, glad you do.

 

[LordOpie]

Originally posted by $tinkle
before i imaged my machine yesterday, i deleted 1,337 cookies. No one here appreciated it, glad you do.

there are only 10 types of people... those who got your joke and those who didn't

 

[$tinkle]

Originally posted by LordOpie
there are only 10 types of people... those who got your joke and those who didn't

i wear this shirt more than my KISS army shirt in 4th grade:

if you can't read this, then "you are dumb"

 

[ummbikes]

nerds