researchok said:
As for the Talibanization of Iraq, it was bin Laden who funded the Taliban, to a great degree. It was also he who instigated and reinstated the policy of growing and selling poppy. He very much set the tone for Mullah Omars regime.
As far funding bin Laden, his antipathy towards the US came after the war.
It was his choice to expand his war from fighting the Russians.
A correction here. Taliban means Student (as in student of the Qu'ran).
Not only were the Taliban against drug use, they were far more successful in eliminating the poppy trade in Afghanistan than any group before or since.
During the 1990’s, Afghanistan poppies supplied approximately 70% of the world’s opium, but in 1999 the Taliban's fatwa prohibitted the planting of poppies and was 96% successful in eliminating the crops. However, the Taliban government allowed for the trade of opium, and taxed it heavily. Since the US invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 and the subsequent ousting of the Taliban, crop production resumed with full-force.
http://www.american.edu/TED/taliban-poppy.htm
That's not a statement of support for the Taliban, just an observation.
The Taliban not only banned growing opium, they also banned movies, television, videos, music, long hair (except beards), keeping birds, flying kites, applause, objectionable literature, the internet... not to mention all the restrictions related to women....
