Posted on 02/04/2014 7:06:18 AM PST by Theoria
President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has been engaged in secret contacts with the Taliban about reaching a peace agreement without the involvement of his American and Western allies, further corroding already strained relations with the United States.
The secret contacts appear to help explain a string of actions by Mr. Karzai that seem intended to antagonize his American backers, Western and Afghan officials said. In recent weeks, Mr. Karzai has continued to refuse to sign a long-term security agreement with Washington that he negotiated, insisted on releasing hardened Taliban militants from prison and distributed distorted evidence of what he called American war crimes.
The clandestine contacts with the Taliban have borne little fruit, according to people who have been told about them. But they have helped undermine the remaining confidence between the United States and Mr. Karzai, making the already messy endgame of the Afghan conflict even more volatile. Support for the war effort in Congress has deteriorated sharply, and American officials say they are uncertain whether they can maintain even minimal security cooperation with Mr. Karzai’s government or its successor after coming elections.
Frustrated by Mr. Karzai’s refusal to sign the security agreement, which would clear the way for American troops to stay on for training and counterterrorism work after the end of the year, President Obama has summoned his top commanders to the White House on Tuesday to consider the future of the American mission in Afghanistan.
Western and Afghan officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the peace contacts, said that the outreach was apparently initiated by the Taliban in November, a time of deepening mistrust between Mr. Karzai and his allies. Mr.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
No surprise. Karzai is bargaining for his life—if he reaches an accommodation with the Taliban, maybe they won’t kill him when he runs off to Switzerland with the money he’s skimmed.
Karzai has gotten rich off of US money and plans to abandon the country at the first sign of trouble when the US military leaves.
He will have to battle his brother for the money. Karzai’s brother has took plenty from the Kabul Bank.
I can’t fault him for trying. He knows the individuals.
There is an assumption that the Taliban is homogeneous in belief. Perhaps Karzi can see individuals that do not posses the fervor of most radical. They have for the time being at least rebuffed his advances.
They are now considering if it is best to maintain the radical hard line or come in for the cold.
History is a process, not a single event
I agree. They probably assured him of safe passage. Within 90 days of our last big draw down the Taliban will be running Kabul. Back to pre-9/11
“President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has been engaged in secret contacts with the Taliban “
umm...he’s been doing this for years
WHAT! There’s corruption in afghanistan. Shocked I tell ya. WHAT? Karzai is getting rich off us? But he seems like such a nice guy. LOL!
regaring corruption......
Karzi is a piker compared to Barack Obama.
He had better cozy up to the Taliban if he want’s to stay in power, or keep his head. He knows we’ll be gone and they’ll be coming. Just like the Soviets. Just like all the liberals said 11 years ago. We just didn’t know how deep our government’s corruption and avarice was back then.
I feel sorry for the last troops to pull out. Afghanistan is America’s worst failure and defeat. Unless you count 0’s reelection.
They will be under the barney fife rule. One bullet, for themselves.
This should be an important note to the US military. Since scoundrels like Karzai hobnob with the enemy, and let enemy prisoners go, the US military should be reluctant to take any but the most minor prisoners.
I am reminded of a story from the Philippine Insurrection, when a group of Muslim Moro Pirates who had been terrorizing villagers were captured, while being escorted back to the American base as POWs, some dozen or so of them “fell off a log and broke their necks.”
Yeh you can hardly blame the guy for trying save himself knowing the US is getting ready to leave him to the wolves. Self preservation is a strong instinct. :-)
What would you do if you knew America was not committed to see this through? If you watched our president telegraph our every move....giving up on Iraq and kissing up to dictators?
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