WASHINGTON -- Ever since New York's twin towers fell, one widespread view of the 9/11 attacks has drawn on the idea of a "clash of civilizations," a term popularized by Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington. In this interpretation, Al-Qaeda's war on the West is merely part of a larger and essentially unavoidable fight between two opposed cultural realms defined by Islam and Christianity.
Afghanistan has been in chaos for the past 30 years, leaving little room for optimism. But the events of this past week have shocked even the most pessimistic observers.
On June 28, Taliban militants attacked a heavily guarded luxury hotel in Kabul, an assault that ended only after Afghan security forces called on their international allies for help.
