I can't see there is anything inconsistent in the expression rational fanatic. History is littered with them. The Nazis were extremely rational about all kinds of things, brilliant technologically, remarkably efficient at tactics and strategy.

If you assume your opponents are not rational you fall into the trap of thinking they aren't as clever as you, and that is likely to be fatal. And it is a trap that people often fall into.

I suppose people noticed that the main Afghani force opposed to the Taliban are "50,000 mujahideen irregulars of the Iranian supported Islamic Unity Party" - so what do I see when I put on the TV just now but Newt Gingrich lumping Iran in with Afghanistan as one of the target states? I'd think it is time to try to mend fences with Iran, where a lot of things have changed over the last few years.

Meanwhile of course it is Pakistan, where the Taliban are very popular, that is the chosen intermediary and staging post for action against Afghanistan, with the highly likely outcome that there could be a pro-Taliban regime come to power in Pakistan, armed with nuclear weapons.