Andy, I’m not sure that you would disagree with this, but it’s quite possible that the Iranian regime both despises the Taliban (all the evidence would suggest that it does) while at the same time is quite prepared to arm it. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and all that. Quite frankly, there’s a lot that the US could learn (or, more accurately, relearn) from that. In a rough world, the pursuit of the national interest may lead a country, any country, to engage with any number of thugs, psychos, and madmen. If that’s what it takes, so be it.