The response is in this post: Closing the Chapter on “Benefit of Doubt” to Terrorists (al-Qaeda et al.)

On that note, the comments will be closed, as the discussion has run its course.

Salaam Suhail,

Sorry for the delayed response. I address your response below:

1/ Be careful when you defend the Taliban. Yes, warlords fought after the US left, and Taliban stepped in to ramp up security. Initially the Afghanis supported them because of the law and order they saw in their actions. However, the Afghanis realized that Taliban was imposing their brand of Islam on the masses against their will. That’s when they opposed the Taliban. To me, there is no difference between Afghan warlords fighting post-war, and the rise of the Taliban. Taliban was continuing oppression on the masses in their own ways just as the warlords were.

2/ Regarding the Taliban being “bombed out of the afghanistan”, it is because of the Taliban’s dumb decision to protect Osama bin Laden that led to the bombing. After 9/11 happened, the Taliban should have handed bin Laden over to avoid the massacre of so many civilians. They didn’t. Choosing the lesser of two evils, Taliban should definitely have handed him over. It was a dumb decision that led to more misery for Muslims — thanks to the Taliban and Osama bin Laden.

3/ Regarding Iraq, there is no doubt the US is responsible for the murder of hundreds and thousands of Iraqis. I never said otherwise. But this does not change my point that now many Muslim Iraqis are fighting amongst themselves and shedding blood: Sunnis, Shi’ah, Salafis, Iraqi nationalists, etc. This is pathetic, Islamically speaking.

4/ Regarding drone attacks, take a good guess why this is happening.
Terrorists hide in the tribal regions and are causing havoc. Pakistan is suffering as we speak from a spate of attacks across the country by these bloodthirsty militants. They want to overthrow the government, impose their narrow version of Islamic Law, and kill fellow Muslims. What to do? Invade the tribal regions with a full army and create a bigger problem? Leave it as is so extremism can flourish and be a continued nuisance to Pakistan and its neighbors? Let the Pak government do what they can, including support of drone attacks? What do you propose to resolve or minimize problems in that troubled region?

5/ Musharraf said Richard Armitage forced Pakistan to comply with their opposition to the Taliban and other militants. After a strong alliance with the extremists for much of Pakistan’s existence, why would the Pak government want to suddenly abandon them for the some “money”? If Musharraf really wanted money, he could’ve gotten it through other ways, and not put himself and his country at so much risk by opposing the militants he and previous governments had supported for decades. The US was hit on 9/11 and they were serious about attacking. Musharraf made the right decision, in my opinion, otherwise the country would’ve been in worse shape. And even if this story is weak, as you say, it was long overdue to subdue the militants and cut the government’s alliance with them. Pak politicians were playing with fire for a long time. Better late than never to clamp down on these militant ego-maniacs. Hats off to him in this regard, though he still counts as a tyrant in my books.

6/ Americans have done lots of damage, no doubt. But I really believe our suffering would be far less if Muslims were more sincere to Islam and true in brotherood to their fellow Muslims. Unfortunately they are not. This is likely why Muslims are suffering so much. Though others have caused much damage to Muslims, I believe the ultimate solution is to rectify ourselves, purify our souls, deflate our egos, and be true to Allah.

Salaam,
Mohammed

Please correct me if I am wrong!

Similarly, Imaam Ahmad declared that one who said that the Qur’aan was created and not the Speech of Allaah was a kaafir, but yet he endured long years of physical and mental persecution but never once declared rebellion against the rulers.

The key word is simply, wisdom, and there is often a severe lack of that among us.