# What is the Taliban? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2001, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471 "2001-09-13T22:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/1 "2001-09-13T22:53:07Z")
Is the Taliban Afghan’s government, or is it just one of their parties, like Democrat or Republican in the US. Reason I ask is, the latest I heard is that the Taliban is refusing to extradite bin Laden, and I was wondering if they really have the power to do that or if someone outranks them and can force them. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/2 "2001-09-13T23:12:40Z")
The Taliban is the warring faction that currently controls ( by force of arms ) about 90-95% of Afghanistan. They are the de facto government of Afghanistan. Which is not the same as the legal govt. of Afghanistan ( there currently isn’t one that is widely recognized ). For the most part the countries of the world have so far refused formal recognition. But for all intensive purposes they are treated as the ruling government. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/3 "2001-09-13T23:22:20Z")
Is that why the news keeps referring to Middle Eastern countries as “states” instead of countries? Or do they consider themselves states as well? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/4 "2001-09-13T23:24:31Z")
Here’s what the World Factbook has to say about [Afghanistan and the Taliban](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/af.html#Govt). It’s not certain that the Taliban has the power to turn over Bin Laden even if they wanted to. The civil war in Afghanistan appears to be winding down, but it’s not over by any means. ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/5 "2001-09-13T23:30:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamerlane \* > \*\*But for all intensive purposes they are treated as the ruling government. > \*\* Just to be a big nerd, I’m going to point out that the phrase is actually “for all intents and purposes”. I labored under the same assumption myself for years, until someone finally told me. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/6 "2001-09-13T23:35:59Z")
Thanks **occ**. I hate looking dumb 😃 . - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/7 "2001-09-14T00:38:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squink \* > \*\*Here’s what the World Factbook has to say about [Afghanistan and the Taliban](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/af.html#Govt). It’s not certain that the Taliban has the power to turn over Bin Laden even if they wanted to. The civil war in Afghanistan appears to be winding down, but it’s not over by any means. \*\* You mean someone else could stop them? Who, besides them, supports him? I’m hoping and clinging to Matt’s theory that the Afghanis not affiliated with him will boot him out before we can do anything in their backyard. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/8 "2001-09-14T01:01:34Z")
> [@](#): > > You mean someone else could stop them?.. That information is very hard to come by, but Bin Laden himself might have a thing or two to say to any “government” representatives that tried to arrest him. After twenty years of war, the last men standing have a messy situation on there hands. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/9 "2001-09-14T01:06:34Z")
> [@](#): > > That information is very hard to come by, but Bin Laden himself might have a thing or two to say to any “government” representatives that tried to arrest him. That’s the impression that I’m getting; namely that Bin Laden probably has a _lot_ of influence in the Afghani government. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/10 "2001-09-14T01:30:54Z")
His influence may be “on” rather than “in” the Afghan government. He’s got a powerful organization. The Afghan government needs to respect that, whether they like it or not. That doesn’t automatically mean that they are “harboring” him. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/11 "2001-09-14T01:35:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamerlane \* > \*\*Thanks **occ**. I hate looking dumb 😃 . > > - Tamerlane \*\* Don’t fret it’s kind of a mute point anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-taliban/81471/12 "2001-09-14T01:48:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squink \* > \*\*His influence may be “on” rather than “in” the Afghan government. He’s got a powerful organization. The Afghan government needs to respect that, whether they like it or not. That doesn’t automatically mean that they are “harboring” him. \*\* I’m sure the fact that he’s rich helps his influence. While he despises his royal connections in Saudi Arabia, he’s not adverse to using their money.