The Taliban are trying to influence the upcoming national elections, but over 80 percent of the country is experiencing no Taliban violence at all. Thus the Taliban effort is doomed to failure. Moreover, the Taliban are having recruiting problems, with more of their gunmen being teenagers, often recruited out of Islamic schools (some parents complain to their neighbors and the word gets around.) Previously, the Taliban used older, more experienced, men. The kids are more likely to make mistakes, and less capable of keeping up during a chase through the countryside.