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Holbrooke's plea for talks with Taliban leader
Press TV ^ | Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:44:31 GMT | AR/MB

Posted on 10/22/2009 6:29:29 PM PDT by gandalftb

US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke had requested talks with Mullah Omar during his July visit to Pakistan. During the visit, Holbrooke, asked Pakistani officials to make the effort in bringing either the Taliban leader or his special representative to the negotiating table.

Holbrooke's request is being considered in Taliban's leadership council by Mowlavi Abdul Kabir and Mowlavi Abdul Latif Mansour, the report adds.

According to a member of Taliban's leadership council, during his Islamabad visit in July, Holbrooke opposed suggestions by Pakistani officials that his appeal for talks with the Taliban leader should be made public. Holbrook then demanded that the issue must be pursued covertly, adding that in case Taliban's response to his request was affirmative, then the US would decide how to carry on the matter.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Taliban leaders have also embraced the idea of Saudi Arabia brokering of talks between the US and Taliban.

(Excerpt) Read more at presstv.ir ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; holbrooke; mullahomar; omar; pakistan; richardholbrooke
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We need to be a little careful about Press TV, but they are often credible. There is some back up here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/28/afghanistan.defence

And the Saudi initiative is well known. In any case, Omar is untouchable in Pakistan for now, we might as well try to reach out. We have common interests in Afghanistan such as getting rid of opium and Karzai.

1 posted on 10/22/2009 6:29:29 PM PDT by gandalftb
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To: gandalftb

You want us to reach out to Mullah Omar??


2 posted on 10/22/2009 6:32:00 PM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: gandalftb

What a stupid infidel dog...


3 posted on 10/22/2009 6:35:06 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: gandalftb

Let’s send Biden over there to talk to these people. That will confuse them.


4 posted on 10/22/2009 6:35:28 PM PDT by donhunt ("Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them." - Ronald Reagan)
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To: gandalftb
hmmm - deal - we'll get rid of Karsai for you and let you back to take over the ‘ghan if you cut us in on the poppy $ = TRoops? what troops?
5 posted on 10/22/2009 6:36:24 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" LINCOLN)
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To: gandalftb

Holbrook is looking for someone to show the white flag to. Mullah Omar shouldn’t sink to the indignity of meeting with him. He can send a first year Madrasa student to deal with the infidel.


6 posted on 10/22/2009 6:36:29 PM PDT by saganite (What would Sully do?)
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To: gandalftb

Our approach to Omar should be the same now as it was 8 years ago. Hand over Bin Ladin and we’ll talk.


7 posted on 10/22/2009 6:38:30 PM PDT by marron
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To: gandalftb
This is the first step of this administration's surrender to terrorists.


8 posted on 10/22/2009 6:39:57 PM PDT by darkwing104 (Lets get dangerous)
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To: gandalftb

Hey man, the Taliban encouraged opium growth because it was exported to the kuffar (i.e. infidels). The only reaching out we should be doing to One-Eyed-Omar is using Hellfire missiles. Besides, keeping Omar in Pakistan keeps him removed from his supporters and renders him ineffective... until he gets careless.


9 posted on 10/22/2009 6:43:33 PM PDT by Texas Colonel
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To: gandalftb

The Taliban is just as likely to chop Holbrook’s head off as talk to him, and it is ludicrous to even suggest that we have anything to discuss with Mullah Omar.

And where is the Secretary of State this week...??


10 posted on 10/22/2009 6:44:55 PM PDT by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts....)
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To: darkwing104
This is the first step of this administration's surrender to terrorists.

Yeah, and I should have guessed it would be 911 liar Holbrooke.

11 posted on 10/22/2009 6:45:24 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Sarah and the Conservatives will rock your world.)
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To: gandalftb

I’ve had my eye out for Mullah Omar


12 posted on 10/22/2009 6:49:47 PM PDT by TheCause ("that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States")
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To: gandalftb

Mullah Omar said to meet him in the big empty cave on the Pakistan Afghanistan border. He gave his word that he wouldn’t harm Mr. Holbrooke. I’m sure Holbrooke won’t have a problem with this since he thinks mullah Omar is an honest person he can deal with.


13 posted on 10/22/2009 7:02:27 PM PDT by peeps36 (Democrats Don't Need No Stinking Input From You Little People)
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To: nuconvert; 2banana; maine-iac7; saganite; darkwing104; Texas Colonel; Bean Counter; Navy Patriot; ..
Bin Laden and Z would hate the idea, too. Think about the internal trouble it would cause Al Qaeda if we talked to Omar.

Our/my military family is stuck in Omar's sandbox and he is sending them home feet first. I don't give a damn what happens to Afghanistan, sorry about the ladies there that will have to live like cattle.

But Afghans are exporting jihadists and opiates to us here in America and killing our families here. Something has got to give, their country is too primitive, illiterate, anarchaic and corrupt to ever govern or even pacify.

We either face up to generations of garrisoning them and haggling with the latest mayor of Kabul or find a new path. Viet Nam was really quite simple compared to this mess.

I don't need to see any more American dead and vacillating Obama's to know that American willpower will go away without progress. Our military can offer many effective solutions that will drive the enemy to the table but we need a dialogue to get to a political solution and end-game.

14 posted on 10/22/2009 7:36:49 PM PDT by gandalftb
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To: gandalftb

You should respect that part of your family which decided to volunteer for duty knowing full well where they would be headed and support them and their cause instead of wishing foe a defeat in Afghanistan. Note: before you go off on me, I served 20 years in the AF so “been there and done that”.


15 posted on 10/22/2009 7:41:32 PM PDT by saganite
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To: saganite

“Holbrook is looking for someone to show the white flag to”

Exactly my thoughts. Holbrook is most likely carrying a white flag with him at all times.


16 posted on 10/22/2009 7:51:10 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: gandalftb

Legitimizing the Taliban will end in failure, but hey, don’t let Pakistan’s past mistakes with the Taliban have any frakin’ bearing on your pleas there, Holbrooke. Idiot.


17 posted on 10/22/2009 8:18:23 PM PDT by cranked
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To: saganite
Well I been there, done that too. I buried my two cousins in 1968 and 1970 while my government didn't have the courage to even mine Haiphong Harbor.

Well here we are, stuck with New Kids On The Block that won't send reinforcements until we are "sure of our Afghan partners". Our military can't wait 3 years for a new President with some courage.

Do you think our military has any confidence in their "War President" when he just got pimped with the Nobel Peace Prize? Does anyone think Obama, as obsessed as he is with his place in history, is going to expand this war?

This war needs to be fought in Pakistan just like it should have been fought in Laos and Cambodia, out in the open, where ever the enemy is. I will risk my family if they can take the gloves off.

If this war is going to be fought in DC it can only be lost and our American blood wasted. I personally would rather sit down with Omar than Obama, more could be done.

18 posted on 10/22/2009 8:24:34 PM PDT by gandalftb
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To: cranked

There is no Taliban, it is a collection of ragtag tribesman that will go back to killing each other after we’re gone. Omar is reality and the key to ending Al Qaeda. He is the center of gravity just like Saddam. Any contact will destabilize the enemy and that is not something we are doing in Pakistan right now.


19 posted on 10/22/2009 8:28:40 PM PDT by gandalftb
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To: gandalftb

Contrary to your belief, there is indeed a Taliban and any contact with them will only act to legitimize them.


20 posted on 10/22/2009 10:00:21 PM PDT by cranked
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