than two decades of fighting, the Taliban is back in control of Afghanistan?” “It will be. And it will bring with it not just Al-Qaeda, but the Pathan. Do you know them?” “They’re the ones who kidnapped Gil.” “Secretary Adams’s son, yes. They’re an extended family of extremists, with claws in every organization, legitimate and otherwise, in the region. The current so-called democratic government of Afghanistan was propped up by us. Remove us, without a plan . . .” He opened his hands. “All the rats come streaming back. All the ground lost. All the rights withdrawn.” “The women, the girls . .
...more
actually prescient
