Posted on 08/04/2022 2:27:23 PM PDT by elpadre
The killing of the al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in Kabul by a US drone strike on July 31 raises some crucial questions. It appears the ruling Taliban were aware of, and gave their blessing to, al-Zawahiri staying in one of the residential areas in Kabul. But did someone in their hierarchy turn him in to the US – and if so, who and why?
It’s worth thinking about what this means for the relationship between the two groups: one an ailing global terror network, the other an insurgent group trying to gain international legitimacy for its takeover in Afghanistan.
A little recent history is enlightening. In February 2020, a peace deal signed in Doha, Qatar between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban) and the US paved the way for Washington to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan after 20 years.
The Americans were promised a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan which pledged not to “allow any of its members, other individuals or groups, including al-Qaeda, to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its allies.”
The US hoped to use the Taliban to counter ISIS-K’s growing threat in the region. Desperate for cash and international recognition, this sealed the deal on the Afghan part.
But even if they were publicly praised, the Doha accords were not accepted and honored by all. The pledge to sever ties with al-Qaeda created friction inside the Taliban. This was largely a generational divide. On one side was a younger, more technologically savvy and English-speaking leadership group that saw the opportunity to rebuild the group’s image and attract vital funds to rebuild civil society. On the other side were older Taliban fighters.
(Excerpt) Read more at asiatimes.com ...
It just proves how super awesome Joe is. [/s]
excerpted:
Sirajuddin Haqqani has never obeyed the Quetta Council of the Taliban, for he considers himself the conqueror of Kabul. So there is little doubt that created a safe haven for Ayman al-Zawahiri – keep in mind, that was a Haqqani guesthouse.
Another Afghan intelligence officer told me: “The truth is, in spite of their promise, the Taliban – and the Haqqani network in particular – have never really cut ties with al-Qaeda, going against what was agreed with the US.”
Which makes the existential threat of a major terrorist action much greater as those competing for power strive to show who’s the baddest ass around...
Expect more BS stories the closer we get to the midterms. By October they’ll be claiming Joe found Hitler hiding in an old age home in Argentina and killed him by bashing his head in with a menorah.
“assassination of terror group leader in Kabul will drive a deeper wedge between Taliban’s already divided leadership”
Truth translation:
Assassination of terror group leader in Kabul will drive the Taliban and Al Queda to try to make their associations more secretive than they have been.”
Of course the Taliban were aware and are of the terroists at all levels in their country. Anyone who thinks handing a country over for the Talliban to govern was going to end well was off their ever living rocker!
PR piece?
What are those guns with the belts of ammo?
If they really wanted to, the US military could take out the whole Taliban ruling Junta pretty easy, just like they did with this POS
100%
It’s all about the Opium.
looks like an RPK
Seems to me that at least some elements of the Taliban wanted al-Zawahiri burned, and the Haqqanis exposed, and set us up to do the job for them. That lets them curry favor with the US on the sly, publically condemn the US for this outrage, and deflect blame from themselves among domestic rivals.
The Americans were promised a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan which pledged not to “allow any of its members, other individuals or groups, including al-Qaeda, to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its allies.”
The US hoped to use the Taliban to counter ISIS-K’s growing threat ...
February 2020 was on President Trump's watch, and this will be thrown in the face of anyone who recalls the pullout-fiasco to any leftist. The writer suggests that many of the various jihadi groups had no intention of honoring their promises, but then we already knew that. He expects political polarization in jihadi-ville. I think a general slaughter more likely.
How could this mess have been avoided?
Don’t stop there.
PKM and a US M240.
thx
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