h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Right: I'm going to warm this thread up again

The Taliban are all but beaten now and it looks like a large UN presence will arrive in Afghanistan within the next few weeks.The US, Britain, France and I'm sure some other allied powers already have troops prepared to enter Afghanistan.

So, what happens next?

As far as I can see, as well as some sort of representative democracy, federalism should be instituted, with different tribes having autonomy over their own area, with strong local government and a central government having overall military and foreign-policy control. I'm not a monarchist, so I'm not in favour of some dusty old King being restored to an Afghan throne, but if the Afghans want it, then so be it.

As for "moderate" elements of the Taliban "playing a part" in the new Afghan government. I know the US doesn't understand people outside the US borders a lot of the time but jeez, I'd have thought they'd get the jist of what the Taliban are about. They don't have "moderate" parts and they don't "do" democracy. They do fanatiscism and woman-beating and that's about it.

Oh, and Pakistan should keep it's nose out of Afghan affairs

Zagreb