“When the Taliban captured Kabul [Afghanistan] in September 1996, U.S. officials initially hoped that they would be a force for law and order and considered opening an embassy in Kabul. On hearing criticism of the Taliban filtering in from human and women’s rights groups, they backed down. The future of U.S.-Afghan ties was then put off to the next Clinton administration.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Bruce Riedel, Deadly Embrace, Page 49