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Brush Okie's question triggered my own question - why should the Afghans, whether their army or their civilians, fight this war? As long as we pay them (welfare, in other words) then I suppose their paycheck is a reason. But I don't perceive them as being fundamentally opposed to the Taliban in terms of beliefs, morals, or ethics. In fact, they seem more likely to be natural allies of the Taliban and natural enemies of the U.S. I recognize, of course, that I may merely have displayed my ignorance - but I always appreciate corrections when my understanding is in error.