However, in that part of the world, regimes like the Taliban rule with the consent of the people. When the people don't like the leaders, they simply kill them off.

The Taliban is really no more fanatical than anyone else. They certainly don't have a problem with their lucrative drug trade, do they? Merely, they mixed religion into politics to inspire their followers to go far to achieve what want.

They are ruthless, but nothing less can be expected considering all of the wars. People in our age group in Afghanistan have known nothing but war. Put one of them in power, and you can not expect them to rule much differently than the Taliban.