So what kind of moral figure is running the Taliban's insurgency now?

Recall that on May 12, the Taliban lost their axe-murdering genocidal-maniacal commander, Mullah Dadullah. Now according to The Jamestown Foundation's analyst, Waliullah Rahmani, the person in charge of the Taliban-led insurgency in southern Afghanistan is none other than Mansoor Dadullah, the deceased's half-brother.

So when did Mansoor enter the picture? Well, after he was released by the Afghan government in the deal carved out with the Italians to win the release of journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo.

Oddly enough, a "well informed" source, Waheed Mujda, told The Jamestown Foundation that Mansoor wasn't the Taliban leader Mullah Omar's ideal candidate.

According to Mujda, Mullah Omar wasn't exactly thrilled about Mansoor because he apparently opposes the overuse of beheadings and executions. Given the familial relationship, he felt Mansoor would be just as ruthless.

But as Mujda went on to tell The Foundation, apparently the OBL crew's view of his qualities trumped any hesitation on the part of the Commander of the Faithful. As Mujda put it: "Al-Qaeda leaders think that Mansoor has his brother's qualities and therefore should be supported."

While Mujda said he didn't think Mansoor was, in fact, as ruthless as the brother was, no less than Mansoor himself went on record (Al-Jazeera) to state that rest assured, he would indeed continue with his brother's tactics. True to his word, suicide bombings and executions have continued apace in Afghanistan.

Now I wonder when the Commander of the Faithful will no longer be able to live with himself for protecting these monsters at his own peoples' peril. And when will the Italian government issue their final report about the ultimate cost of their hostage release? Now I guess they'll have to wait until Mansoor is taken out of action for the final numbers.