Don't you just wanna pinch their cheeks?

Right before walking away and leaving my wallet on the floor of Starbucks, I laughed out loud while reading the headlines from the New York Times—causing the table of police who have their coffee there every morning to look over at me nervously (which wasn’t helped when I came back two more times searching for my wallet all over the store). The head line:
“Taliban Overhaul Image to Win Allies.”
The first part of the article:
“KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban have embarked on a sophisticated information war, using modern media tools as well as some old-fashioned ones, to soften their image and win favor with local Afghans as they try to counter the Americans’ new campaign to win Afghan hearts and minds. The Taliban’s spiritual leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, issued a lengthy directive late last spring outlining a new code of conduct for the Taliban. The dictates include bans on suicide bombings against civilians, burning down schools, or cutting off ears, lips and tongues.
The code, which has been spottily enforced, does not necessarily mean a gentler insurgency. Although the Taliban warned some civilians away before the assault on the heart of Kabul on Monday, they were still responsible for three-quarters of civilian casualties last year, according to the United Nations.”
Seriously? I love this! It’s like they are taking notes from Hollywood or something—trying to recreate how the public see them. Like Paris Hilton trying to change her spots by only making sex tapes on Thursdays!
So, we no longer need to fear or hate the Taliban. They’re reformed. No more dangerous than rabid rabbits!

**All quotes used directly from The New York Times; Jan. 21, 2010