# I pit the Taliban **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271 "2012-10-10T00:36:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/1 "2012-10-10T00:36:02Z")
As much as I think these douchebags deserve scorn, derision, contempt and eradication, they keep coming up with new reasons to hate them: [ > [@](#): > > Fourteen-year-old Malala Yousufzai was admired across a battle-scarred region of Pakistan for exposing the Taliban’s atrocities and advocating for girls’ education in the face of religious extremists. On Tuesday, the Taliban nearly killed her to quiet her message. > > A gunman walked up to a bus taking children home from school in the volatile northern Swat Valley and shot Malala in the head and neck. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS\_PAKISTAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-09-19-11-31](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-09-19-11-31)) Their god must be a particularly weak and ineffectual god, tho, because Malala survived. [ > [@](#): > > The young activist was airlifted by helicopter to a military hospital in the frontier city of Peshawar. A doctor in the city of Mingora, Tariq Mohammad, said her wounds weren’t life-threatening, but a provincial information minister said after a medical board examined the girl that the next few days would be crucial. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS\_PAKISTAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-09-19-11-31](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-09-19-11-31)) I’m about as tolerant a person as exists; for example, I think the slopes should be open not to just snowboarders AND skiers, but also to ski boarders. But I draw the line at assholes who shoot girls because they are girls (who won’t be quiet and submissive), who [destroy art because it’s art](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhas_of_Bamiyan) and who think their god requires them to commit atrocities in general. I supported the war in Afghanistan, and I’ll support every effort to root out theses cocksuckers. Fuck them. Fuck them up their stupid asses. The world will be a better place without them. [Children of a worthless god](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmiCtnIcnQE), indeed. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/2 "2012-10-10T00:52:08Z")
Fuck any piece of shit who would harm a child to try and make some sort of a fucked up point. If people want to act like animals, put them down. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/3 "2012-10-10T01:16:04Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > Fuck any piece of shit who would harm a child to try and make some sort of a fucked up point. If people want to act like animals, put them down. Yeah, I agree. Also drone pilots should be put down. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/4 "2012-10-10T02:13:21Z")
Drone pilots aren’t evil. Taliban are. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/5 "2012-10-10T02:18:30Z")
Drones have killed plenty of kids, what’s the difference between the two? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/6 "2012-10-10T02:28:22Z")
Drones don’t have pilots. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/7 "2012-10-10T02:28:33Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Drones have killed plenty of kids, what’s the difference between the two? Umm, intent? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/8 "2012-10-10T02:42:53Z")
So if the Taliban in Pakistan decide that killing a child is in their political interests, that is evil. But if the US decides that it is in our political interests to pursue policies that will surely kill children (albeit, unintentionally), that is ok? I’m sure that is great comfort to the parents of the dead children. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/9 "2012-10-10T02:42:55Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Drones don’t have pilots. Really? They’re like, fully autonomous flying killing machines? Now that’s scary. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/10 "2012-10-10T02:47:57Z")
Really low hanging fruit. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/11 "2012-10-10T02:58:04Z")
Going out on a limb Bo. I think I’ll hold off on my Hitler pitting until the dust settles. ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/12 "2012-10-10T03:14:27Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > So if the Taliban in Pakistan decide that killing a child is in their political interests, that is evil. But if the US decides that it is in our political interests to pursue policies that will surely kill children (albeit, unintentionally), that is ok? I’m sure that is great comfort to the parents of the dead children. It’s the difference between targeted killing and accidental killing. The drone pilots are not deliberately targeting innocent people. The taliban have, are, and will. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/13 "2012-10-10T03:41:49Z")
I’ve worked in conflict zones for over ten years and let me tell you something: a dead kid is a dead fucking kid. I am so fucking sick of this “we’re so much better than th sand niggers” bullshit. The fact is we have slaughtered thousands more children than bin Laden could ever dream of killing, and because the killers did it by pushing a button and did it because the want to go to school on the GI bill doesn’t mean shit. We know that our wars kill kids, but we cloak ourselves in bullshit to pretend it doesn’t. At least the Taliban aren’t such pussies abou it. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/14 "2012-10-10T03:47:32Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I’ve worked in conflict zones for over ten years and let me tell you something: a dead kid is a dead fucking kid. I am so fucking sick of this “we’re so much better than th sand niggers” bullshit. The fact is we have slaughtered thousands more children than bin Laden could ever dream of killing, and because the killers did it by pushing a button and did it because the want to go to school on the GI bill doesn’t mean shit. We know that our wars kill kids, but we cloak ourselves in bullshit to pretend it doesn’t. At least the Taliban aren’t such pussies abou it. So then how are we supposed to wage modern warfare? For better or for worse drone warfare causes far less collateral damage than conventional air strikes or artillery bombardment. We are not specifically hunting out kids to kill them. Do you truly think we, with all our imperfections, are morally equivalent to a bunch of savages who find it acceptable to publically execute women in sports stadiums? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/15 "2012-10-10T04:41:30Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I’ve worked in conflict zones for over ten years and let me tell you something: a dead kid is a dead fucking kid. I am so fucking sick of this “we’re so much better than th sand niggers” bullshit. The fact is we have slaughtered thousands more children than bin Laden could ever dream of killing, and because the killers did it by pushing a button and did it because the want to go to school on the GI bill doesn’t mean shit. We know that our wars kill kids, but we cloak ourselves in bullshit to pretend it doesn’t. At least the Taliban aren’t such pussies abou it. So you’re saying that if the police are involved in a shootout with some bank robbers and a cop’s bullet misses and accidentally kills a kid, that’s the same thing as that cop walking up and shooting a kid in cold blood for no reason at all. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/16 "2012-10-10T05:23:48Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > So you’re saying that if the police are involved in a shootout with some bank robbers and a cop’s bullet misses and accidentally kills a kid, that’s the same thing as that cop walking up and shooting a kid in cold blood for no reason at all. If they sent in a drone to kill the bank robbers and blew up everyone within 500 feet of the bank and then declared them all to be bank robbers, are you saying that would be better than if a taliban child blew up the bank on purpose declaring them all to be infidels? I’m confused. Anyway, children shouldn’t be robbing banks so let this be a lesson to us all. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/17 "2012-10-10T05:32:08Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > If they sent in a drone to kill the bank robbers and blew up everyone within 500 feet of the bank and then declared them all to be bank robbers, are you saying that would be better than if a taliban child blew up the bank on purpose declaring them all to be infidels? I’m confused. Anyway, children shouldn’t be robbing banks so let this be a lesson to us all. Been at the paint thinner, have we? ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/18 "2012-10-10T05:41:43Z")
Never. I prefer to keep a clear head for discussing such important topics of our time. I do like to have a little fun in RO threads since there isn’t any other useful reason for them to exist. It is a false sense of comfort to hide mass murder behind a good cause whatever corner of the world you happen to inhabit. Better? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/19 "2012-10-10T06:02:09Z")
This is for madmonk and (if I understood his posts correctly) CrazyHorse: If you decide that “collateral damage” is unacceptable, then you might as well give up any idea of conducting military operations anywhere - because when you’re using modern weapons, you cannot ever be sure that no civilians will be hurt. So, it seems that you’re advocating that US cease conducting any military operations anywhere. Am I understanding you correctly? If I didn’t, can you clarify your position? ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271/20 "2012-10-10T06:11:25Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > This is for madmonk and (if I understood his posts correctly) CrazyHorse: > > If you decide that “collateral damage” is unacceptable, then you might as well give up any idea of conducting military operations anywhere - because when you’re using modern weapons, you cannot ever be sure that no civilians will be hurt. So, it seems that you’re advocating that US cease conducting any military operations anywhere. Am I understanding you correctly? > > If I didn’t, can you clarify your position? I’m not advocating anything. We have our good causes, they have theirs, and they are justifications to each side for blowing each other up and accepting collateral damage as a necessary cost of the conflict. Both are indoctrinated with value and belief systems that support their actions from their own point of view. The question I answered was not an accurate representation of the issue and my answer was not an attempt to find an end to war. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-taliban/637271.md?page=2)