Posted on 10/28/2009 5:05:25 AM PDT by fruser1
U.S. defense bill would pay Taliban to switch sides
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The defense bill President Barack Obama will sign into law on Wednesday contains a new provision that would pay Taliban fighters who renounce the insurgency, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin said on Tuesday.
The provision establishes a program in Afghanistan similar to one used in Iraq where former fighters were re-integrated into Iraqi society, Levin told Reuters.
Obama plans to sign the bill authorizing Pentagon operations for fiscal 2010 on Wednesday, the White House said.
Reaching out to moderate Taliban members is part of the Obama administration's plan to turn around the eight-year war in Afghanistan. Levin also has advocated trying to convince Taliban fighters to change sides by luring them with jobs and amnesty for past attacks.
Under the legislation, Afghan fighters who renounce the insurgency would be paid for "mainly protection of their towns and villages," Levin said.
It would be "just like the sons of Iraq," he said, referring to the program used in Iraq which military commanders say helped turn around a failing war.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I guess the only reason they say this worked in Iraq is to make sure it's perceived as a good thing for Obama to do.
No kudos for Bush though.
SSDD
I don't see a lot of postings on their site that counter their world view, oddly enough. I see "barf alerts" here all the time. Funny how we're willing to at least look at all the sides, even if we vehemently disagree.
The Taliban are renegades...from all over...many from Pakistan. Dumb move!! IMHO
Should be re-titled...
“Obama plans bailout of his Taliban brothers.”
Very dumb, and expensive.
People there are tribal. A tribe will switch allegiance quicker than we'd change our hat.
They'll switch, grab the money, then switch back.
It is against FR posting rules to change the headline.
Don’t blame Bush for this. It’s a bad idea, and Bush never did it, so saying it is Bush’s doctrine is a swipe at Bush.
To prevent duplication, please do not change the published title. Thanks.
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