US in talks with Taliban..
Hamid Karzai, confirms US involvement in the peace talks at a news conference in Kabul.
Does this mean that an exit strategy is being considered and we leave the country as it was before ?
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The US and other foreign powers are engaged in preliminary talks with the Taliban about a possible settlement to the war in Afghanistan, the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has said. It is the first official confirmation of US involvement in such negotiations.
Diplomats have already said there have been months of preliminary talks between the two sides, and Karzai, who is a strong advocate of peace talks, has long said that Afghans are in contact with insurgent groups.
"Peace talks are going on with the Taliban. The foreign military and especially the United States itself is going ahead with these negotiations," Karzai told a news conference in the Afghan capital.
Karzai was speaking the day after the UN security council split the UN sanctions list for Taliban and al-Qaida figures into two, which envoys said could help induce the Taliban into talks on a peace deal in Afghanistan.
There are many Afghans, among them women's and civil society activists, who fear talks with insurgents could undo much of the progress they have made since the Taliban government was ousted in 2001.
Afghanistan's neighbours are nervous about plans for a strategic partnership with the US, which may include long-term bases on Afghan soil, Karzai also warned.
Guardian
frenchie, i think we are too far from the topic on this forum, as britexpat said the Motto of Afghan war was " To destroy Taliban, now how come we have Good (Taliban) & Bad (Taliban)?"
Head of the countries (US & Allies) are not countable to their public, how the Motto changed in 10 years after huge loss of Human and Money?" on both sides.
Good parable. :-)
So do you see Gadhafi as a victim in all this?
frenchie, when saying Morocco, Jorden, Tunisia and UAE, U remind me a joke of "A Mouse was in rush, and was hiding somewhere in Jungle, someone asked him, What happened? The Mouse replied, an unknown animal has been raped the wife of Lion, and it is likely that the police will count me among the suspicious rapists."
And the other countries?
UAE .... LOLzzz, aren't they looking themselves for Erik Prince to train mercenaries for them? if Yes, then how come they can fight against Libyans?
What about the UAE, Jordan, Tunisia, and Morocco, which have all lent support in one form or another?
Are you a Gadhafi supporter?
frenchie
very well said by an official of Libyan's Govt.
"Qatar ! an oil corporation for allies", and thats true.
Of course not, Britexpat. I am saying we need to see the bigger picture (i.e. the problem of imperialism generally) as well.
So, what you're saying is that it should be tolerated and accepted, since the alternative could be worse ?
The US is doing what every empire has done. The problem isn't the US, it's imperialism. To focus criticism on the US is to miss the wood for the trees. After all, if the US falls, another country will just take its place, and that country will likely be crueler.
and then all those puppets the world over.
And still in Germany, Japan and Cuba. At least they don't paint world maps in that funny-pink colour.
They are now using a different model - Hence the bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi, Qatar and afghanistan ..
Hopefully the Americans won't stay as long as the British in Hong Kong, the Spanish in Mexico, the Romans in Palestine, the Turks in Greece, the French in Algeria, etc. etc.
Brit - even if they realise it, they are helpless.
Fact indeed - sadly many still don't realise it.
Britexpat--and so the empire speaks to its colony. Nothing new historically here.
Alter Dusty--did you miss the fact that Qatar is supplying the rebels with virtually all of their arms (and with the UAE joining in the air raids)?
he got a telling off for saying the truth :P
Well Karzai got a telling off yesterday after saying that "They're here for their own purposes, for their own goals, and they're using our soil for that" :o)
some nations only seeks a way to war, Libya is a new hunting field for them.
I don't see wars as a necessity. To talk is a necessity.To think is even more necessary.
Maybe that will happen one day. One can always hope.
When is the last time there was a war of necessity (whatever that is)...WWII?
US wanted Laden and he is finished. What's the point in fighting Talibaan? Although to outside world Talibaan may look like devils, but they are the favourites of locals .Until the local people realize where they are heading with Talibaanism, I don't think outsiders can do anything about it.
On the other hand, Al qaeda needs to realize that an organisation and ideology like Talibaan whose first and last aim is free money (either from opium crops or from US) , can they ever be messanger of Islam?
I am a fan of Gates, but let's remember the same things were said after Vietnam.
Mr. Gates has stated .. “I will always be an advocate in terms of wars of necessity. I am just much more cautious on wars of choice.”
Libya would be a war of choice ...
They never seem to learn from their misdeeds and mis adventures be it in Japan, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan, and then come up with excuses to run away and extricate themselves from the mess of their own making. If they are the real brave guys why dont they go and help the freedom fighters in Libya and Syria.
Interesting quote from the outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates - “When I took this job, the United States was fighting two very difficult, very costly wars, and it has seemed to me: Let’s get this business wrapped up before we go looking for more opportunities.”
He said that the human costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had made him far more wary about unleashing the might of the American armed forces.
Hence , Its time to turn over a new chapter..
Millions? It is 12 Billion dollars a month
they have been bleeding millions there, its better for them to cut and run.
The other key dialog at present is about the long term presence of US Troops in the country..
Yeah that sadly they are offering to their neighbours next door in pakistan and look what the americans are getting for all their aid and dollars going to that neighbouring country, they were even hiding Uncles Sam's most wanted around their military bases.
That's because the US isn't planning on offering them material supporter and intelligence.
The americans have been talking to the taliban for the last several years and trying to bribe their tribal chieftains with condoms, viagra and dollars but they seem to be getting nowhere as after the effects of the viagara are over the local tribal leaders go back to their old habits. Money can buy a few things for a certain time but not all of it and forever
US was in talks with Taliban since 6 months or soo...
Isn't it Contradiction in US Stand.
When Pakistan talks about opening a Dialog with Taliban, US Says it is Unacceptable.
Sorry .. My Bad.. i was just going by what Bush said ;o)
Britexpat--I think it was more complicated than that :-)
I guess, this time the Taliban representatives are the real ones and not imposters..
Good move by US..this had to happen someday, sooner the better. Now, the policies, constitution and the penal codes etc. all depend on whats the extent of representation of Talibans in the Afghan government. I am afraid things will be the same as before after about a decade.
at the end Bad Boys (Taliban) will left alone, and country will be handed over to the GOOD Boys (Taliban).
The whole point of the exercise in Afghanistan was to destroy the Taliban - wasn't it ?
The US is in constant talks with the Taliban, albeit through third parties.
The Americans will make them their puppets like before
but wonder where that would leave the people of Afganistan. Will their lives be any better now or just as perilous? Truly my prayers are with the innocents..ultimately its they who have had to pay far too dearly.