Meet the new boogeyman: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

[Opusnone]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulbuddin_Hekmatyar

Former leader of the Hezb-e-Islami who should have been in custody long ago, but is now is apparently back in Afghanistan (after being kicked out of exile in Iran) working with Taliban and Mujahadeen remnants against the US.

You would have to be a real POS to get booted from Iranian exile, don't you think?

Formerly on the receiving end of US aid, now on the run from US guns.

[SmokingJacket]

1. I remember him from the '90's...

during the Afghan war. One of those shady guys with shifting loyalties...

[Opusnone]

2. his name came up on Kos today

in the story of the US chopper crash. I vaguely remember him, too.

[Warpy]

3. Yeah, he's a POS

but don't underestimate the Iranians. They were generally against the Taliban because they went too far and gave all Islam a bad name. The Iranians are remarkably liberal in some ways, much freer than we are here. In others, they are one of the most repressive regimes on earth. It all depends on what area you're talking about.

They would have been moving much more toward liberalizing the rule of the Mullahs had Stupid not stolen office in the US and started his campaign against them. They likely would never have admitted Hekmatyar had there not been a US inspired war on two of their borders.

[Opusnone]

4. I'm optmisitic on the Iranian people

It's the mullahs that bother me.

[Warpy]

5. The people are sick of the Mullahs

but will continue to rally around them as long as they are being threatened by the west.

Count on it.

[Pithy Cherub]

6. Your outrage meter will shatter once you read

Steve Coll's award winning book Ghost Wars.