It's not suprising. The Taliban, and many other "terroristical" organisations (Little differnce between terrorists and freedom fighters. Just depends on whose side you're on) are not all religious extremists. In fact, religious extrimism has less to do with it than the socioeconomical situation, and the recent history. (which, in many cases is gruesome enough to support their antipathy for the West).
Given how they acted when they were in power, I'm going to have to completely disagree with that.
It's a loosely defined alliance of tribal lords, and other militias, which suddenly found themselves in charge of a country. Similair situations have happened in the past, whitout religious motives, and with similair results.
As I question yours, if you sincerly believe that the only way to solve the terroristical problem is what will amount to the eridication of entire ethnic minorities/majorities.
That is not what I said. My argument is that the vast majority of Taliban members will only end their actions through death, not retirement, because of their own fanatical will. (Also, your own implication that every Afghan is a member of the Taliban is pretty questionable in and of itself.)
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Not what I said, but anyway. The continues military occupation and drone raids are the main reason why the Taliban still exists. For every Taliban member you kill, they get to recruit several more members. Especially with civilian deaths. It's much easier to blame the far off Western nation for all your troubles, especially when they have obviously superior technology, and can seemingly decide wherether you live or die. These people, who have little, and feel absolutely powerless to decide over their own future are the primary recruitment ground for the Taliban.
Adding to that, there are several reasonable fractions within the Taliban, or within other "terroristical" organisations.
As an American, I'm gonna say that if you think "We don't negotiate with terrorists" is a higher priority than saving lives, including American lives, you have failed at patriotism (among other things). If you think some given example will just encourage more terrorism, or negotiation will otherwise prove useless, that's fine, but dismissing the idea on principle alone? You're rating your own sense of righteousness as being more valuable than human life. Doing the right thing is hard, sometimes. But you're not going to fix anything by taking the easy choice.
And why are American lives more important than others?
They aren't. But for patriots they oftne are, I suppose.