Weary Taliban coming in from the cold

csmonitor ^ | Gretchen Peters and Aleem Agha

[Critical Bill]

KANDAHAR PROVINCE AND KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Abdul Rahman Akhund has been battling US and Afghan government troops for three long, hard years. He misses raising his kids among the quiet pomegranate orchards he used to tend at home.

With another frigid winter setting in, and a new US offensive being launched this week, this weary Taliban fighter says he's ready to come in from the cold. "If the government will let us peacefully return to our villages and our children, we will come," he says. "We are tired living on the run in these snowy mountains."

His fellow tribesman, Sarwar Akhund, goes one step further: Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and terror kingpin Osama bin Laden, he charges, tricked followers like him into believing they were fighting a holy war against infidels, "when really they just wanted to consolidate their own seats of power." If allowed back into society, he pledges to "do whatever I can" to help kill or capture the fugitive leaders.

The two soldiers expressed views that intelligence circles across southern Afghanistan have been hearing for months. Many officials, military strategists, and diplomats here are increasingly optimistic that the Taliban are largely a spent force, made up in great parts by disillusioned, worn out foot soldiers like the Akhund tribesmen.

That's why President Hamid Karzai plans a general amnesty for Taliban rank and file as one of his first major initiatives since winning national elections in October and being inaugurated last week.

Mr. Karzai and his American backers hope the move will not only bring peace to great swaths of Afghanistan, but may even lead to the seizure of the high-value terror targets US troops are hunting across the country's south and east.

[Critical Bill]

[William of Orange]

great news! looks like the feeling is beginning to sink in they're being duped by these socalled Taliban 'leaders'.

thank God for the magnificent stamina of the US forces! bless them all!

[wideawake]

There are only so many young men willing to die pointlessly, and the older the survivors get the more they yearn for a normal life.

[iso]

Good news , thanks .

:-)

[Recon Dad]

Only when these ex-taliban put Osama in the sights of a Marine sniper would I trust any of them. The one thing we have known for sure about the Afghans is they are a rather duplicitous bunch.

[2banana]

How to win a guerrilla war...

Hunt and kill the guerrillas without mercy and without let up. Follow them to the ends of the world. Never give them a moments peace.

Help the people of the country make their lives better.

Eventually, the guerillas will give up (this one took three years).

[Recon Dad]

Only when these ex-taliban put Osama in the sights of a Marine sniper would I trust any of them. The one thing we have known for sure about the Afghans is they are a rather duplicitous bunch.

[Cronos]

Hi, but you guys seem to have overlooked one line:

His fellow tribesman, Sarwar Akhund, goes one step further: Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and terror kingpin Osama bin Laden, he charges, tricked followers like him into believing they were fighting a holy war against infidels, "when really they just wanted to consolidate their own seats of power."

They seem to say they wouldn't mind leaving to go to war against infidels again.....

[P.O.E.]

"We are tired living on the run in these snowy mountains."

Well boo-frickin'-hoo.

[tsomer]

The two soldiers expressed views that intelligence circles across southern Afghanistan have been hearing for months.

Subterfuge.

[Critical Bill]

Slightly off topic I see there is a brand new propaganda tape from the ... wait for it... The media platoon of the Islamic Jihad Army

View at your own discretion

[joesnuffy]

Only when these ex-taliban put Osama in the sights of a Marine sniper would I trust any of them. The one thing we have known for sure about the Afghans is they are a rather duplicitous bunch.

Roger...that!

[wideawake]

I'm sure they would fight again, in theory. All Muslims are supposed to, in theory.

Sounds like he doesn't trust any of his so-called leaders and it doesn't seem that he's willing to take command either - so I'm guessing he's retired.

[oust the louse]

These so called fighters should have NO voice in the media. The less we know about them the better so they can be eliminated period. No reason to think they would not take up arms again while our troops are in any of their villages...for aren't WE the infidels?....trust NOBODY!

[kidd]

These are people believe that the 911 attacks were glorious.

They are willing to lay down their life to murder those who do not share their belief.

They should not be allowed back into society.

[Kozak]

Heard a lot of bragging. Didn't see much fighting. One possible explosion in the background. Who knows if it was the bandits or us kicking ass again? Hope the little media student who put this POS together decided to make his stand in Fallujah. If so now he's toast.

[Critical Bill]

"tired of living in the snowy mountains"?

try this:
http://www.gunnies.pac.com.au/gallery/taliban.jpg

[RAY]

Beware, Arabs seem to never act in good faith!

[Critical Bill]

The things you see when you haven't got your SAW

[reagan_fanatic]

Blah blah.

In the Spring, they'll just pick up their guns and go shoot infidels again. Same old same old.