Obama hints at talks with Taleban

[Каие]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7930865.stm

Looks like he is trying a Iraqi Surge style tactic by getting Taliban moderates and tribes to switch sides.

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

The justification is exactly what Halbrooke said - all the Taliban that are out today consist mostly of men disillusioned by Karzai's corrupt government.

IMO, it's the only way forward although the core Taliban bloc will only negotiate if NATO leaves Afghanistan. Can't see the "Amir-ul-Momineen" agreeing to anything less. By the way, isn't the NWFP government criticized nowadays for negotiating with Omar's Pakistani counterpart, Fazulullah, while NATO is following the same stragety in Afghanistan?

By the way, NATO-Taliban talks have been taking place in Saudi Arabia for months now. They were borkered by the Saudi intelligence chief as well as Nawaz Sharif. NATO's spokesperson is some Afghan government guy.

[Babur]

The justification is exactly what Halbrooke said - all the Taliban that are out today consist mostly of men disillusioned by Karzai's corrupt government.

IMO, it's the only way forward although the core Taliban bloc will only negotiate if NATO leaves Afghanistan. Can't see the "Amir-ul-Momineen" agreeing to anything less. By the way, isn't the NWFP government criticized nowadays for negotiating with Omar's Pakistani counterpart, Fazulullah, while NATO is following the same stragety in Afghanistan?

By the way, NATO-Taliban talks have been taking place in Saudi Arabia for months now. They were borkered by the Saudi intelligence chief as well as Nawaz Sharif. NATO's spokesperson is some Afghan government guy.

Man,never trust a thief

[Icefrisco]

Talking isn't just "talking", it is paying them off. There's nothing wrong with that as long as it works.

[Kiljan Arslan]

the core taliban we're not going to negotiate with mullah omar can go to hell.

[Farnan]

You need to separate the reconcilibles from the non-reconcilibles.

What is now the "Taliban" is an umbrella group containing Pushtu Nationalists, Drug Lords, Opportunistic War Lords, Angry Afghans and the real Taliban. All but the real Taliban are reconilible, they can find an opportunity to bring them back into the fold. Once that is done the Taliban will be greatly weakened as a force.

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

You need to separate the reconcilibles from the non-reconcilibles.

What is now the "Taliban" is an umbrella group containing Pushtu Nationalists, Drug Lords, Opportunistic War Lords, Angry Afghans and the real Taliban. All but the real Taliban are reconilible, they can find an opportunity to bring them back into the fold. Once that is done the Taliban will be greatly weakened as a force.

The Taliban want all foreign soldiers out of their country. It's their legitimate right. The others want either the same or they want Karzai gone. Time to find another puppet?

[Barry Goldwater]

If we can get the moderates on our side...then, well...why the hell not?

[Heathen Hammer]

The Taliban want all foreign soldiers out of their country. It's their legitimate right. The others want either the same or they want Karzai gone. Time to find another puppet?

Isn't Taliban foreign as well?

[Gumpfendorfer]

Talking isn't just "talking", it is paying them off. There's nothing wrong with that as long as it works.

Spot on, alas for that plan is that those bribed will still do what they feel like to do, and taking money from the other side as well. Said so many times, the Afghans are using us for their own internal powerstruggle. We always tend to forget that factor. It's a totally different situation from Iraq. It might suppress the conflict for while, but that's all. It will offer no permanent solution at all. Thinking we can leave after that is naive.

And are we going to pay the Pakistan taliban as well??

[Каие]

And are we going to pay the Pakistan taliban as well??

If by 'pay' you actually mean 'shoot' then yes.

What are the Taliban moderates? Do they allow women to show more then five centimeters of her body?

Taliban is just a catch all media term used to describe anyone fighting the NATO forces in Afghanistan. Its an umbrella term. The real Taliban of Mullah Omar is a minority in this alliance of convenience. The rest of the 'Taliban' anti-government forces, drug lords, warlords and tribes who have a problem with government aligned tribes etc.

[cristophe el perno]

Agreed. There's no harm in talking, and if we can get some taliban suporters/sympathisers to switch sides through persuasion/bribery then that'll be some serious progress.

[Confederate Jeb]

Seems like a good idea.

[justicar5]

sure, give it a go. Carrot and stick time.

[Aziel]

What are the Taliban moderates? Do they allow women to show more then five centimeters of her body?

The Taliban want all foreign soldiers out of their country. It's their legitimate right. The others want either the same or they want Karzai gone. Time to find another puppet?

What about the Taleban in FATA? The Pakistani army just can't handle them.

[Ahlerich]

What are the Taliban moderates? Do they allow women to show more then five centimeters of her body?

What about the Taleban in FATA? The Pakistani army just can't handle them.

if you wanna see naked chicks buy a playboy and leave the taliban alone

to the topic: of course. either kill em all or talk. kill em all is not possible, didnt even work with the european jews so lets talk

[Visna]

Seems like a good idea. With a bit of luck, it'll even cause internal division between the various "factions". Some are simply beyond therapeutic reach. Kill them. But get the "moderates" to abandon them first.

[Eien]

True, if you can't kill them, get them to join you.

[Eien]

lol, true, a person who cash upon demagogy shouldn't be in the negotiation table -.-

[jankren]

I have trust in the Special One.