Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Taliban ... "let's TALK!" ??

SO....we were in negotiations 2 months ago with the Taliban?  And their leader blames us for just about every single thing he can and he won't sign a bilateral peace agreement.  But, he's "willing to start peace negotiations"...what do you think that PEACE would look like on his terms?   On ours?
Got any thoughts?: (Please read mine at the end of this)

Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban's reclusive leader said Tuesday that his group was willing to start peace negotiations, even as he urged more attacks — including insider shootings by government security forces — on foreign troops.
In a wide-ranging emailed message, Mullah Mohammad Omar blamed America and the Afghan government for the derailment of talks two months ago.
He also called Afghans to boycott next year's presidential elections, describing them as being manipulated by the United States.
In a message issued ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the one-eyed chief of the Afghan insurgency urged the army and police turn their guns on foreign forces, government officials and the Afghan troops who are cooperating with the U.S.-led coalition forces.
The Taliban's longstanding policy is to continue attacks even as it pursues negotiations.
The five-page message was emailed to news organizations. Mullah Omar regularly issues such messages for the two yearly Eid holy days.
Striking a conciliatory tone elsewhere in the message, he denied that the insurgents were seeking to monopolize power in Afghanistan and said that his group favored what he described as an "Afghan-inclusive government based on Islamic principles."
He called on Afghans, however, to stay away from the April 5 elections for a new president and councils that will run Afghanistan's 34 provinces, saying the polls were "a waste of time."
The reclusive leader has not been seen he reportedly fled a village in southern Afghanistan on motorcycle three months after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001. There are no known audio recordings of his voice since early 2002 or any pictures of Mullah Omar. He mainly communicates in messages relayed by his spokesmen.
In the message, Mullah Omar did repeat a key U.S. demand opening the way for peace talks by pledging not to use Afghanistan as a base to threaten other countries, although he again did not openly denounce al-Qaida — one of the original conditions set by the United States that was temporarily dropped to get talks going.
"Our fundamental principle according to our unchanging policy is that we do not intend to harm anyone, nor we allow anyone to harm others from our soil," the message said, echoing the original language used by the Taliban on June 18 when they announced the opening of a political office in the Gulf state of Qatar. Some elements of the Taliban, including the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, are believed to still have ties with al-Qaida.
Those talks foundered before they even began when the Taliban marked the opening with the flag, anthem and symbols of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan — the group's name when they ruled the country. President Hamid Karzai immediately pulled the plug on talks saying the office had all the trappings of an embassy of a government in exile.
"The aim of our contacts and talks with the invaders which are conducted through the Political Office is to put an end to occupation of Afghanistan. No one should perceive that the Mujahedeen will relinquish of their lofty religious principles and national interests. I assure you that I will not reach any illegitimate compromise or unlawful deal," said the message, which was also written in English.
He complained the talks faltered because "the invaders and their allies are creating obstacles in the way of resolving problems by making various pretexts."
The Taliban have already held secret talks with Karzai's representatives to try to jumpstart a peace process, Afghan officials and a senior Taliban representative recently told The Associated Press.
The discussions with members of the Afghan High Peace Council, appointed by Karzai three years ago to conduct talks with the Taliban, have so far been unofficial and preliminary. They are seen as an attempt to agree on conditions for formal talks.
But Mullah Omar warned that whatever the result of peace talks, the Taliban would not accept the signing of a bilateral security agreement between Afghanistan and the United States that would allow the presence of foreign troops beyond the end of 2014, when all international combat forces are to leave the country. When signed, such an agreement would allow a small force of trainers and possibly counterterrorism troops to remain. Although no numbers have been announced yet, it is believed they would be about 9,000 from the U.S. and 6,000 from its allies.
"The Afghans consider the presence of a small number of invading troops as an encroachment against their independence as they are not willing to accept presence of thousands of foreign troops," the message said.
The Taliban have intensified their campaign against Afghan and foreign forces in recent months, especially after the coalition handed over responsibility for security to the army and police forces they have been training in recent years. They have especially targeted areas in their traditional homelands in southern and eastern Afghanistan in an effort to take advantage of the withdrawal of foreign troops.
As a result casualties among both Afghan forces and civilians have increased dramatically.
Mullah Omar denied responsibility for increased civilian casualties, despite a recent U.S. report that blamed insurgents for more than three-quarters of them.
But he said his fighters would not stop fighting, despite conciliatory hints about political inclusiveness and his belief that Afghan youth should have a "modern education."
"I urge all Afghans who perform duties in the ranks of the enemy to turn barrels of their guns against the infidel invaders and their allies instead of martyring their Muslim Afghans," the message said. "The Islamic Emirate considers it its religious and national obligation to liberate the country from the occupation. When the occupation ends, reaching an understanding with the Afghans will not be a hard task because, by adhering to and having common principles and culture, the Afghans understand each other better."
___
Z: My thoughts?   Let HIM take over tomorrow.  Will this mean our amputees and otherwise injured  soldiers and our families of the dead will feel this is all for nothing? I have rarely heard a vet say we did do good over there.  Tell me what you think it would look like if we left tomorrow in, say, a year.
Associated Press Writer Kathy Gannon contributed from Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Z

37 comments:

Constitutional Insurgent said...

As desicpable as the QST are, there's going to have to be a political concilation of some sort. We've hitched our wagon to a corrupt regime in Kabul, that doesn't have the support of the population......violating a fundamental tenet of the COIN strategy we purport to be pursuing.

There's little doubt that Karzai and our money are on the first plane after our last plane out of country.

We continue to repeat the Wilsonian nation building exercises that have failed so many times before.

The Debonair Dudes World said...

The State Dept says the US Embassy in Yemen WAS NOT "evacuated", but there WAS a reduction in staff. Operations have not been suspended.

I guess it all depends on what “Is” “IS”! Or should I put it this way!

Bin Laden is dead GM is alive. Al Qaeda is one the run. BUT WE are “evacuating our Embassies.

But don’t you worry, have NO fears, Obama is on it! Obama is on the Golf Course where he thinks best. and over the weekend he will make up his mind and tell us all what he’s going do when he’s on and the Jay Leno show. Or while he’s relaxing on and Martha/s Vineyard or in the Hampton’s where he can think best in the quite atmosphere of the beach.
Or maybe he should go in a hand shaking apologizing tour with his friend friends with them Putin?
Or better yet, maybe he should send Al Sharpton over to Yemen to protest against al-Qaida and tell them to "Stand Your Ground"!

Oh Yeah, Obama has al-Qaida on the run. Right? Tunning all over us!

Anonymous said...

The answer is simple, when the enemy senses weakness, they attack.. Obama is on the run, not al Qaeda.

Jarhead said...

The Debonair Dudes World said...", Obama is on it! he’s going do when he’s on the Jay Leno show."


Let me get this straight, whenever something is important... the President goes on a late night comedy talk show to announce it?

Thersites said...

I think that the Taliban should accept Barrack Obama's Unconditional Surrender, immediately!

Thersites said...

I can hardly wait until we start paying tribute and reparations.

Sam Huntington said...

Just wondering how the American government would like it if the Taliban suddenly decided, it doesn’t want to talk to any member of the United States government; it would rather just talk to the leader of the political party not in power. This is essentially what the US government, geniuses that they are, is doing in Afghanistan. There is a party in power – like it or not, headed by Karzai. So what does the US State Department do? It opens talk with the political party not in power.

And we wonder why everyone in the entire world thinks that the idiot Ducky is running our government …

Sam Huntington said...

PS. To confirm, President Obama is not closing down 22 embassies and consults in the Middle East and running away like a little girl. It’s a sequestration strategy. Personally, I think we should close down the White House … could save a bunch of money with that decision.

Z said...

And the pres, last night, tells us "violent extremists are still out there".
I guess he means Christian Fundamentalists, right? :-)

CI.......but the population does want peace and we read how many of them do NOT want us gone.
I agree about Karzai, the little worm.

Deb Dude...Ya, he really has them on the run :=) They must get a kick of a president who talks 45 minutes on important subjects on Jay Leno's comedy show, too. (oy)

My Cons Thoughts...exactly. How humiliating.

Jarhead, imagine the great image it gives the world: Obama cool and talking on Leno. man.

But, some lib was on CNN this morning saying "I think it's good he went on there...you have to meet the people where they are..."
And I couldn't help but think "yup, they don't know who's VP, but they know Kardashian's baby's name and they're watching Leno"

I have no prob with Leno, but OBAMA goes JUST when the scandals are so big?

Thersites...well said. Made me laugh...and then cry because it feels so true!

Sam, good point about who talks to who. (or whom.. I give up on that :-)
And, oh, yes...how we could save money if the WH was closed. "Sequestration"..good one!



Z said...

BY NOW, I SUPPOSE YOU'VE ALL HEARD THIS:

"Published: August 6, 2013

Federal law enforcement authorities have filed murder charges against Ahmed Abu Khattala, a prominent militia leader in Benghazi, Libya, in connection with the attacks on a diplomatic mission there last Sept. 11 that killed the United States ambassador and three other Americans, according to senior law enforcement and United States officials."

WOW...you think this is legit? I woke up, heard this, and thought "So, HE'S the martyr now, huh?"

Could be they're right. I hope they are.
What about all those CIA who were swarming the compound while it was happening? What about that, folks?

Z said...

and, by the way, curious that Yahoo's homepage isn't highlighting this story.
I guess BENGHAZI is never a good subject for the left to bring up?

Thersites said...

...nor is Egypt, as it was only "recently" that the Obama has fessed up to supplying the Syrian rebels with actual arms...

Ducky's here said...

Well, sometimes you have to make a deal with the devil.

The Taliban in Afghanistan or the Brotherhood in Egypt, only a naif would believe those factions aren't going to participate and we have to make the best bargain possible or accept the resulting instability.

Ducky's here said...

z, why are you surprised that there was a CIA presence in Benghazi?

They were running an operation and when it went into the fan they wanted the details hushed. SOP.

Anonymous said...

FROM Z AT WORK:

Ducky, not 'hushed' for Congress, who even CNN is admitting didn't know. They've been asking for a year; nice to have known the facts.
It's a naïf who believes all was done to protect our four dead Americans.
And yes, that's why I'm asking; what will it look like and how could a PEACE be evolved that could be right for everyone concerned, including us.


christian soldier said...

Let our BEST fight to win- or -bring them home!!
Enough-
BTW- shut down the govt.agencies -IRS-HS-DoJ-DoE- and et al--save $$$ >>>

Carol-CS

I Ain't Got No Blog said...

Obama tells Putin to go screw himself and Putin told him that if you really want to get Mr. Snowden back, send over that Black chick Beyonce, and don't you ever send Hillary Clinton here again.

Impertinent said...

@Sam H:

"I think we should close down the White House …"


Better yet surround it with a battalion of Marines and a squad of Seals.

Even a squad of women Marines ( Wookies ) could do the job....Obuthead sure isn't any kind of a scrapper.

Ducky's here said...

When you get butch it's always entertaining, Imp.

Z said...

Anonymous T...pretty good :-)

Ducky, here's Obama being butch in his knowledge of America:
"If we don’t deepen our ports all along the Gulf — places like Charleston, South Carolina, or Savannah, Georgia, or Jacksonville, Florida — if we don’t do that, those ships are going to go someplace else. And we’ll lose jobs. Businesses won’t locate here."

The trouble is, they're not ON the GULF...but, nobody noticed.

Ducky's here said...

No, z, that's Obama being uninformed. He reminds me of Bush. Very similar pathology.

Can't wait till he nominates Larry Summers as Fed chairman and the right goes on about what a socialist he is.

Kid said...

According to the koran, jihadists are allowed and encouraged to lie to their enemy. All you need to know.

Impertinent said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kid said...

Duck "Well, sometimes you have to make a deal with the devil."

No you don't. See that is the general problem with libtards. They're stupid and cowardly and cannot come up with lasting solutions to serious problems. They come up with mealy mouthed non-solutions that make problems worse, then run around squealing about 'unintended consequences' and 'we didn't spend enough money'.

If all the libtards just went and sat at the kiddie table and left problem resolution to the people with brains and the will to make tough decisions (The Right thing to do is always the hardest thing), maybe we'd get somewhere.

Unfortunately, you and your legions of mealy mouthed unintelligent cowardly Losers have won the day and will again and again because the republican party is a clown show and the population are little more than mesmorized cats staring at any shiny fuzzy ball the democrat propaganda media choose to wave in front of their face.

Enjoy the work of the loser force. It Is going to bite you on the ass in a big way, and I don't think that day is far off.

Kid said...

Carol-CS, The federal government should Only be responsible and tasked with - National Defense.

It IS their #1 mandate and interestingly.... the thing that they currently SUCK THE MOST AT.

Kid said...

So, who is to say Snowden wasn't Told to leak some useless information about NSA tapping into all Digital data. Certainly those of us in the IT industry have taken this for granted for at least a Decade now. Big whup. Next Slide.

Then who's to know Snowden wasn't instructed to flee to Russia, take asylum and spy on THEM?

Hmmm. Was it obama's plan if true? Hell no, in fact whoever cooked it up at the NSA or CIA wouldn't have even told the imbecile obama about it so his moronic reactions would be in character with the imbecile his is and further aid in keeping the project under wraps.

Impertinent said...

@Ducky:

Glad you're amused...it works every where else they do it. We should give it a shot. You think we're really more "civilized" than the rest of the world?

And I suppose I have to remind you that it was the bravest of your states once proud heritage...that readily took part in the first overthrow of a legitimate government. But since you've degenerated into an entire culture of gay pride parade marchers, slaves to PC and taxation ( the Tax part is really ironic isn't it? ) and quislings...you're completely unrepresentative of the remainder of the majority of what's left of this once proud Republic....that you sophists and your fruity population of college professors and TA's have abandoned.

I just wish you'd buck up and secede. Wave a white flag and suspend all your marathons.

Fear not Duck..you can elect or crown a phooking Kennedy or better yet...J F'n Kerry...King. He already thinks he is...yes..."reporting for duty" all liars and frauds like them.

Kid said...

IMP, consider the following three direct quotes from j Fn' Kerry when he was running for the white house with that diseased pervert POS john edwards....

- 9-11 really didn't affect me. (Yes Really!)

- I will personally eliminate the need for middle east oil by delivering a safe and clean power supply. (Yes really !!)

(PS - where is it John???? Keeping it to yourself you spiteful prick even though if you had one you could move from billionaire gigalo to Trillionare Bachorlette!?)

- I will never allow foreign nations to dictate America's defensive actions BUT We Must Have A Global Test !

Duck, You may have to read that a few thousand times to understand the paradox...

Impertinent said...

@Kid:

"I will personally eliminate the need for middle east oil by delivering a safe and clean power supply. (Yes really !!)"

But then the POS discovered along with the drunken kennedy's that he'd have to sail his multi million dollar yacht around them and they stunk up his view. And that he wouldn't be issued a PH for the effort...we know just how fine a "sailor" he was back then..he tried it for 6 months.

Kid said...

IMP, Yea, and to think there isn't a vast majority of people who would immediately think - Gee if john -not even a band aid needed for any of his 3 purple hearts - kerry could do THAT, why he'd be selling his solution to virtually every one of the 6.5 Billion people on Earth and he'd be a Quadrazillionaire !

Is amazing and depressing.

Impertinent said...

@Kid..

Cause he's horse c**k J F K(ing)..the heir to the peoples republic of the former colonies. What other position could he aspire to once he betrayed his country and his fellow Americans under arms and at war? ( 1972 to the present...he's refined evil, stupidity and done wonders for the Halloween industry as the face of abject stupidity and arrogance ) I just wish he had the convictions of a Benedict Arnold and came right out and defected when he had the chance.

Kid said...

Pure Genius right There IMP.

Yes, these mealy pieces of human refuse don't even have the moxy to come out and declare what they are.

I'll declare what I am.

I'm an individual with unalienable rights to defend myself against all enemies, enrich myself to the best of my ability in a free market society, and live the golden rule the entire time. Whether there is an after-life or Not. This is what I choose for myself and my life.

If they're a scumbag, I'll give them a point if you at least declare themself a scumbag. But no, every one of these POS's shows up in court when they're caught and declares themself not guilty.
They lost their last chance at redemption.

Average American said...

America has forgotten how to fight a damned war! All this politically correct bullshit, nation building, rules of engagement, putting in an "elected government" as soon as possible--all these things are STUPID!!

The right answer is to go in, KICK ASS, WE run the place until the heathens are really ready to do it themselves, and then WE install their first government. When we KNOW that we have the right leaders in place, THEN let them dip their frigging little pinkies in blue ink, NOT UNTIL! And don't be afraid of these third world pukes.

Last and MOST important, let the military do what we pay them for. Keep the frigging politicians OUT of it! AND KEEP THE NEWS MEDIA W A Y AWAY!!!!!!!

The Way I See It. said...

If one looks at the downward trend line from Reagan to Bush Sr to Clinton to Bush Jr to Obama, we can expect something worse than Obama. If you are thinking it can't get worse than Obama, think again...
This is what happens when you keep choosing the lesser of two evils instead of demanding real leaders.

Waylon said...

"In Russia live Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws.

If they prefer Sharia Law, then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state law. Russia does not need minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell 'discrimination'.

We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of most minorities.

When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest first, observing that the minorities are not Russians."

There is controversy whether this speech attributed to Vladimir Putin really occurred, but I believe the ideas presented so concisely would raise the hackles of the Western liberal elite. Would any Western leader today have the temerity to even entertain such apostasy, not a chance.

Also having the unmitigated gall to make a second move against the the privileged elites of the worlds gay community regarding parading their sexual predilections has not only raised a chorus of hatred directed Putin, but apparently the country at large.

So profound was this slight to the ruling gay elites of the world, the chosen mouthpiece of this is President Obama, who has decided not to meet with Putin at the G20 summit and possibly squelch the upcoming Olympic Games.

The former country that was the darling of progressive thinking everywhere has now become the target of the vitriol of foaming and rabid progressively rabid communists everywhere, it seems.

Mustang said...

I agree with the comment above, but the situation is classical Catch-22. The primary system appears to consist of weeding-out the worst of the lot, only to end up with these two choices: dumb, and dumber.

How is it that only the worst kinds of people end up in the primary elections? The answer, I fear, is that no honest person is interested in politics. This means that no matter what their credentials, these candidates were at best crooks just waiting for a felony conviction. The disgust of citizens is apparent, and the result of elections is the same. Either dumb or dumber will be elected.

I personally feel this is how politicians prefer elections to work because frustrated voters produce easy to win elections.

Anonymous said...

FROM Z at work:

But Mustang...what presidential candidates in primaries do you know who are even close to being felons?
Ya, I think you're right about the frustration.

Waylon...I WISH an American (or any Western) leader could say that!
What lefties forget when they accuse us of being hateful toward illegals is that we DO like immigration IF IT'S LEGAL. Or even illegal, dare I say, IF the people actually DO want to be Americans, DO want to learn English, DO want to fit in culturally, etc.
I know MANY ethnic families, mine included, who honor their ethnicities in food and bits of culture AT HOME, but ARE AMERICANS.
My grandparents who got here couldn't wait to BE AMERICAN.

That's a HUGE difference to much of what we've got going here these days.