If the Taliban really wanted international respectability, there's an easy way to gain it RIGHT NOW.

[skip fox]

All they have to do is facilitate the evacuation of Americans (and other nationalities that want to leave) and those who worked with the Americas (and their families) and want to leave.

They would lose nothing but the blood lust of vengeance and they would be rid of people they don't want in their country anyway.

Most importantly for them, they would gain respect on the world stage.

[reality1]

1. They just got there

They don't have the infrastructure in place to do that yet. They're keeping a horde from storming the Airport, many of whom have no business trying to get on evacuations flight.

[skip fox]

3. They can do a lot just by announcing that such people will be given safe passage.

[reality1]

5. Safe passage to who?

Afghans? The Taliban can't read the documents these people are showing them. If they allowed safe passage to everyone that wanted through you'd have millions trying to make their way into the airport. Careful what you wish for.

[SCantiGOP]

2. They would probably see international respect

As an indication that their movement has been tainted by Christian and secular influences.
All they care about is staying true to their version of Islam, thereby guaranteeing their entry into Paradise.

[skip fox]

4. Likely true, but not positively so.

I'm hoping the reports of their desire to be taken in by the international community have at least a grain of truth.

[SCantiGOP]

9. I completely agree

But whether it is American or Iraqi religious fanatics, the safe bet is to expect them take the most irrational path possible to prove their purity.

[brewens]

6. Yeah, but they never listen to you either. I was telling Saddam to just play ball with the

inspectors and lighten up on the people a little. If he had, he, Uday and Cusay could still be knocking back the expensive scotch and raping the girls.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. It took until he was in deep shit, but Saddam did play ball with 2002 inspectors for the most part

Bush still invaded.

[Texaswitchy]

7. Looks bad for the new government for all those people wanting to leave.

Who wants to live in the 9th century.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Except that the blood lust of vengeance is the point.

They absolutely want to kill all those who worked with the Americans, make women stay home, not educate girls, and so on.