We haven't heard much about Afghanistan because so much attention is on Iraq right now, but it looks like the Taliban are re-surfacing. This documentary (much of it filmed towards the middle and end of last year) basically spoke about how we drove them underground and they've been re-arming and training for the past 5 years. They've already re-claimed several small provinces and are starting to deploy the same insurgent tactics against our military as in Iraq. It also talked about how the people who supported us in the beginning; including the Northern Alliance are now turning on us. Lastly, it talked about how all the new schools we've built have either been attacked and destroyed or the Taliban is intimidating teachers, parents, and students by threatening them with death if they attend. The madrassas are flourshing and teaching hate to new students by the THOUSANDS each year.

I wasn't prepared for what I just watched. Talk about discouraging. I pretty much thought things were progressing about as well as could be expected over there, but nothing could be further from the truth. Those people cannot understand, comprehend, or fathom the concept of democracy. Someone in another thread said it best. All they can relate to is an oppressive, strong-armed dictatorship. It's absolute insanity and there's no end in sight.

That's because they are Muslim. They embrace the concept of religion driving their laws as opposed to the West where we keep religion out of politics. Those concepts are so tightly held in Muslim countries and many Western leaders failed to appreciate their fanatacism then and now.

After 9/11 I purchased a copy of the Koran and read it. Wow. IMO, not even close to the Bible nor any other religious material I've ever read.

I haven't read it, but from what I've been told though, it's supposedly a religion of peace and denounces the killing of innocents and suicide. Any truth to that?

Also, the true meaning of 'jihad' is not 'holy war', but is supposed to represent man's internal struggle against the evils of society.

I wouldn't say religion of peace. Keep in mind I was raised a Christian so I bring some prejudice to the Western way of thinking.

The Koran does state in a few places that killing is wrong, particularly if it's another "believer" (Muslim) but you see how Sunnis and Shias have forgotten that. "...you shall not kill-for that is forbidden by God-except for a just cause". Being an Israelite is a just cause in Muslim countries. Any non-believer is a potential target. Just last week I read a survey of young Muslims in America and nearly 10% beleived that suicide bombings were acceptable under certain circumstances.

Understanding how Mohammed went into a cave, had dreams, and spoke of the Muslim law as God's "replacement" law for the Bible because he was angry at Christians and Jews was eye opening. I'm far from an expert here but I have learned a lot.

Just when you think we've turned a corner of sorts in Afghanistan, this documentary is broadcast. It just goes to show what an uphill climb we're facing.

I did not see the show, but keep in mind that it is just one side of the story. Don't make judgements based on something you saw on National Geographic.

The other side of course.
I don't believe 100% of everything I see on tv, maybe National Geographic
leans to the left, everything else always has on tv IMHO.

I'm not saying that the Taliban isn't re-surfacing either.
It remains to be seen just how bad things are over there.
If things do happen to be that bad, boy have we blown it but only time will tell.

One more thought, I thought the muslim religion was all about peace?
It starting to look like Radical Muslims aren't Radical at all since the Koran has
no problem with muslims killing non-muslims.
I couldn't figure out why the "good" muslims wouldn't criticize the "bad" ones
for giving their religion a black eye or killing innocent people now I know.

So you saying everything over there is peachy-keen? The Taliban is not re-arming and retraining? They aren't threatening teachers, parents, and students with death if they attend the schools we built?

Of course there's alot of positive things that we've accomplished, but the whole point of the program was to show that the Taliban has not been defeated and are still undermining our efforts there and intimidating the people; only from behind the scenes and not out in the open where we can easily capture or kill them.

I think the most disconcerting thing about the whole situation is that, with the exception of one major blunder (trusting warloads to capture Bin Laden) we had basically done things the right way over there. Now, come to find out that our support from the people may be waning and IT SEEMS (not saying that's the case) that everything we've accomplished so far may be crumbling.

Then there's the madrassas. Once those children are filled with hate at such a young age, it will be very hard if not impossible for them to change there ways of thinking. So in essence, for every terrorist we kill 2 more are there to take his place.

I'm not saying everything is peachy keen over there at all. I'm just saying there is always another side. That show apparently highlighted all the problems going on over there. There is still a lot of good happening, as well. Same thing goes with Iraq. You NEVER see anything about all the good we're doing over there, so people are inclined to think that there is nothing good happening.

I agree, though, that the Taliban re-arming is not a good thing.