It goes without saying, but here it is:
Ethnic cleansing is wrong.

I have agreed with this simple, complete statement for decades, which include every past example we have ever come across. All of them.

For the al Qaida and the Taliban, on the other hand, this is a genuine cleansing. I seriously believe the world will be better without them. They are a sickness we simply cannot afford to support in any way, shape, or form.

It is well known that the Taliban surrendered for the simple fact that they could later rise up and fight again. Any who believe otherwise are living in a fool’s paradise. There is no cure for this disease, this plague we in North America (that does include Canada, btw) have nurtured. With the Taliban, there can be no justice. Humanity is at stake, and I’ll not trade it for an after-the-fact bleeding heart plea from lawyers that they now need to be defended. The war will not be over until terrorism is dead and buried.

The Northern Alliance have lived with the al Qaida for years, and they know this truth. A trial will mean the chance for freedom for these most heinous of criminals, or, even worse, the chance for heroism in the eyes of their youthful followers through the act of martyrdom. Killing the dogs as dogs has them remain as dogs, and this is the only logical answer to the problem.

It is a painful reality, extremely difficult for many to acknowledge and live with -- but at least it can be lived with. The Taliban have already shown us they cannot be lived with. Their agenda includes the destruction of democracy the globe over. They would die to have this offense committed against humanity and freedom. ...And death is all I agree they should receive of their wish.

Hypothetically, had the Jews of WW II been able to stop the Nazis -- after 5 years of death camps -- how would they have responded to what they lived through?

I say, let Afghanistan hold the trials. It is only here that the Taliban and the al Qaida could ever be judged by a honest and open panel of their peers -- and allow Afghanistan to set the punishment.

Dan