The definition of fascism is as follows:

Fascism is a political ideology that seeks to combine radical and authoritarian nationalism with a corporatist economic system, and which is usually considered to be on the far right of the traditional left-right political spectrum.

The Taliban are driven by religion, and believe in global, not nationalist structure, and islam by its culture generally eschews what we typically expect from commercial ventures or capitalism as we know it. So really the only parallel is the bent on authoritarianism. A more appropriate term would be militarized religious zealots….of which they are one of many different stripes in the world today which should be eradicated. Unfortunately this isn’t done by bombing them, but by educating everyone exposed to them that reality is a much better option than radical religious zealotry that perpetuates misery for everyone.

People shouldn’t die or suffer because they don’t believe in the same imaginary god, or deity, or whatever spaghetti monster you believe in. Practice your religion in your home, do not make others suffer for it. But at any rate, it ain’t fascism, so please stop with it.

The only reason I’m bothering to respond here is to remind readers (as if they ought to need reminding) that the Afghan people are not our enemies.

The Taliban represent a relatively tiny constituency overwhelmingly hated by most Afghans. Weapons of mass destruction that irradiate large tracts of territory are not efficient tools for rooting out insurgents living in caves or hiding among the brutalized population of an outlying village.

The Afghan people need our help in overcoming a thuggish and fanatical group of fascists that mostly operates in disguise among them. Counter-insurgency is the appropriate tactic and it will win in the end, so long as the international community persists in also providing necessary aid and capacity-building.

Two words and THAT’S the best way?

I’ve got a BETTER way to Taliban-proof Afghanistan in two words.

“Drop nukes”