Your article is excellent, and even though I do not agree with all your points I think you paint a more accurate picture than most on the subject. During my time in Pakistan working with the PAKMIL, I had a hour long conversation one day with one of their officers concerning the meaning of the word taliban (which translates to “student”). What he told me is that in many (especially rural) parts of Pakistan the only type of school available is a madrassah. If you live in one of these areas, this may be the only form of education available. Once you complete the school you are considered a taliban. Of course, the vast majority of these people go on to live normal lives, and many even rise to key positions of leadership within the Pakistani government. As you can imagine, when we use the word “taliban” to refer to violent extremists, our real meaning often gets lost in translation to those that hear the word “student.” There is such a thing as a big “T” and little “t” taliban, in my mind understanding this nuance is important, well done.