Afghan Taliban Insist Must Protect Bin Laden

Reuters Wire Service ^ | September 16, 2001 02:56 AM ET

[~Vor~]

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said on Sunday it held to its position of sheltering Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, chief suspect in the terror attacks on the United States, and feels responsible for his security.

"On the issue of Osama bin Laden, there has been no shift in our stand. We maintain our old position," Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil told the Afghan Islamic Press in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

"We are responsible for the security of all those living in our country," he said, when asked how Afghanistan would respond to retaliatory strikes by the United States against bin Laden.

President Bush on Saturday declared the United States was at war with global terror and named Muslim zealot bin Laden as the prime suspect, further raising the specter of military strikes on the country.

But the hard-line Islamic Taliban has remained unbowed, calling for Muslims to fight to the death against U.S. aggression and threatening to attack neighboring countries that help Washington, a statement clearly aimed at Pakistan, long the movement's main backer.

When asked if he expected U.S. strikes, Muttawakil said that was a question the Americans should answer.

He said the ruling Taliban had held no discussions with neighboring Pakistan or any other country on the threat of a U.S. attack on Afghanistan.

"But if anyone assists America and allows them to use their airspace or land routes against us then we will be forced to retaliate against them," he said.

Posted for educational and discussion purposes only. Not for commercial use.

[~Vor~]

A search did not find that this article had already been posted. If it has, I apologize for the posting again.

[copycat]

The Taliban needs to disappear in a plume of smoke.

[~Vor~]

As our President said..."they will be hearing from all of us...soon."

[dennisw]

Osama Bin Ladin is crossing into crowded Pakistan. Pakistan has thousands upon thousands of fundamentalist Muslim religious academies. If I were him this is where I would disappear to. One of these religious schools where they teach Jihad and Koran to orphans and the poor. 

Also shave off his beard and look a lot different.

[mass55th]

"...We maintain our old position."

Well then, assume the position...and prepare to kiss your ass goodbye!

[Teacher317]

"We are responsible for the security of all those living in our country," he said, when asked how Afghanistan would respond to retaliatory strikes by the United States against bin Laden.

As are we... we are responding to one of the worst action against civilians ever. You're responsibility is to choose between saving bin Laden's life, and a glimmer of hope of saving the other 25 million Afghans' lives. Choose wisely.

[Woodkirk]

Wisdom says that we should demand in no uncertain terms that Pakistan go into Afghanistan and bring out the heads of these Taliban. If Pakistan refuses or is unable to do so, then make it a land that is uinhabitable. Let the Moslem countries around Afghanistan know that they must go in there with their armies and put an end to this regime now or they will have a radioactive neighbor. Don't risk American resources there when they are better deployed elsewhere. Those who caused the problem like Pakistan should be compelled to end it.

[Tai_Chung]

Bid Laden is the Commander in Chief of Taliban forces. I'm sure that had an influence on their decision to protect him.

[corkoman]

The Taliban expects united suport from other muslim countries. I'm watching for how Indonesia, Iran, and Syria react to Pakistan's OK'ing overflights. And if the Pakis OK staging bases that should ratchet things up a bit.

And if W does a 'with-us-or-agaisnt-us' it will be a jujitsu move that will let everybody know which side folks stand on.

I hope that W does another ZEN MASTER move.