Thats why "Taliban" was in inverted commas. "Zouaves" is a descriptive word for members of the Kabyle tribe of northern Algeria. The men in the photos are wearing turbans as part of their uniform while serving in an active unit of the Army of the Potomac - United States soldiers. The photographs were taken at the Union Army headquarters at Petersburg during the siege. Why should they remove their turbans?
While we are on the subject, "Taliban" is now equated with terrorists when it is simply the plural of the word for a student. I do rememember a bunch of students terrorising the military at Kent State University back in the sixties when the US military response was to shoot at them with live ammunition. The key word then wasn't 'Taliban' but 'Commie' or 'Pinko' Do the US armed forces have a problem with students? Whatever, no Afghans were listed among the terrorists who carried out the 911 attacks and the only casualties seen on TV so far are all civilians.
Now, I'm all in favour of striking at the Al Qaida 'fighters' in Afghanistan or wherever else they are to be found. Let them have a taste of their own medicine. But someone in the US Government needs to get the US military's image machine working soon, if they are to hold the 'coalition' together for much longer.
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Through difficulties to the cinema
[ 09 November 2001: Message edited by: Blacksheep ]