Dear McGrath,Perhaps I didn't put it very well, when I said "Arab" world I meant nations groupings together comprised of mainly Islamic populations, e.g. Saudi Arabia, Libya, UAE, etc., Governments which were noticeably absent with the sort of funding that might have seriously changed the nature of the conflict in the Balkans. Of course, there were volunteers - I meant those Governments that stayed out of it. I understood that this was/is a reasonably universal truism amongst strategic analysts of the Balkans - blimey, I wouldn't come up with that one by meself :)
Oh, Lepus, jest stop being pedantic - I saw all the things I mentioned, I didn't see the little girls raped - I watched 3 hugely traumatised little girls largely who had seen their mother shot in front of them when the Taliban wanted their house and who where subsequently in the house with these Taliban for three days before they moved on (this was part of a Taliban operation) These little girls were so completely traumatised it was evident that unspeakable things occurred besides well as their mum being shot. I think one might have needed to have seen this documentary and it is probably unfair to be commenting on it when it has not been universally seen.
Anyway, I do know that things were not the best in Afghanistan before - but at least women could work and support themselves, at least women could teach girls with out fear of execution.. So, I do know that the Taliban have cleaned up somethings but at a terrible price..
Hope that clears a couple of points up. Hille