Just a correction. The Taliban were never equated with Al Qaeda except by the Empire of Chaos. The Taliban, literally 'Students', were part of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan while the mujahidin warlords fought it out for control of Afghanistan. Pakistan's ISI weaponized the students to move back into Afghanistan and take control, which they did. The irony, of course, is that the Taliban never had anything to do with Osama Bin Ladin except for him to continue to reside in Afghanistan with his forces—a kind of 'guest' privilege. They were quite willing to hand him over to a Muslim tribunal for trial (because what he did was counter to Islamic Law), but they were not going to hand him over to the Americans. I don't think the Iranians liked the Taliban very much, and still don't, but they were not enemies as Al Qaeda was.
Great Work Folks.
Just a correction. The Taliban were never equated with Al Qaeda except by the Empire of Chaos. The Taliban, literally 'Students', were part of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan while the mujahidin warlords fought it out for control of Afghanistan. Pakistan's ISI weaponized the students to move back into Afghanistan and take control, which they did. The irony, of course, is that the Taliban never had anything to do with Osama Bin Ladin except for him to continue to reside in Afghanistan with his forces—a kind of 'guest' privilege. They were quite willing to hand him over to a Muslim tribunal for trial (because what he did was counter to Islamic Law), but they were not going to hand him over to the Americans. I don't think the Iranians liked the Taliban very much, and still don't, but they were not enemies as Al Qaeda was.