I came across this curious ad, shown below, on the news website, The Onion.
It was labeled, “Not a paid advertisement”.
It certainly looked like a paid advertisement, but I’m not sure who, exactly, would have paid for it, if someone had.
Of course there’s a good reason why the Taliban prefers Toyota trucks. Everybody prefers Toyota trucks. They’re rugged, and dependable.
Like, did anyone think the Taliban was going to buy Chevrolet trucks? Ha! Not going to happen. The Taliban has to drive across hundreds of miles of trackless desert in order to defeat the well-funded armies of imperialist countries like Russia and the U.S. They need a rugged, dependable truck.
Plus, they can import Toyota trucks directly from Japan. Which is a lot closer to home. And doesn’t have tariff problems.
As many people know, Afghanistan is not primarily a Christian country. In fact, the government is called the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’. We note the word ‘Islamic.’ The country follows Islamic law, as interpreted by the Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. Apparently, one of the laws is: Real men drive Toyota trucks.
You can’t argue with a Supreme Leader. As we are finding out here in the U.S. lately.
In my experience, Christians are perfectly willing to drive Chevrolet trucks. But Afghanistan is not primarily Christian. As mentioned.
In fact, part of the problem, from the perspective of U.S. corporations, is that the Taliban doesn’t want anything made in the U.S.
Last year, their total imports from the U.S. amounted to $651,000. That’s, like, the price of an average house in Pagosa Springs, where I live.
Or calculated another way, 15 Chevrolet trucks. Not counting the tariffs.
Some people are critical of the Taliban because the leaders believe in the oppressive subjugation of women. Women can’t vote, or get a college education, or even be seen in public without a male escort.
Sort of like how women had it, here in the U.S. prior to 1920, but a lot worse.
Regarding the treatment of women, the Taliban is hands down the most repressive government in the entire world.
But do Afghani women drive trucks? Probably not. So maybe it’s not such a big deal, in terms of Toyota vs. Chevrolet.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all. You can read more stories on his Substack account.