Posted on 11/03/2001 10:16:16 PM PST by RaceBannon
bump
2) There were recent articles in the Wall Street Journal and National Review about the people of Iran overthrowing their theocratic government. Hopes this helps that to be accomplished.
3) If "thousands" of these people are crossing the border to join in the fight, we don't be bomb them as they come? (1. Look for large group of people with guns walking from Pakistan into Afghanistan. 2. Bomb them.)
I have been meaning to tell you how much I appreciate your post and your unrelenting patriotism
MJY <-------------------SALUTES YOU
Iranian officials in secret Taliban talksFrom your post:By Julian West in Islamabad and Christina Lamb,Diplomatic Correspondent
Filed: 04/11/2001IRAN has held secret negotiations with the Taliban in an attempt to secure its influence in the region and block the return of the exiled Afghan king Zahir Shah.
There have been two official visits from the Taliban to Teheran in the past three weeks and a secret visit by an Iranian delegation to Kabul. Iran is believed to have offered to arm and fund the return to Afghanistan of Gulbuddin Hekmatayar, a former Mujahideen leader, who has been living in exile in Iran and wants to take up arms against the former king. Officials also discussed providing fuel to the Taliban.
The meetings, which were confirmed by a Taliban government minister and a senior Taliban diplomat last week, mark a dramatic shift in Iran's policy of supporting the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. The Taliban's radical brand of Sunni fundamentalism is at odds with Iran's Shia version of Islam.
The Taliban has constantly persecuted Shia minorities in Afghanistan and the two countries almost went to war three years ago after the murder of eight Iranian diplomats and a journalist by Taliban soldiers in Mazar-i-Sharif.
The recent thaw in relations came when a Taliban delegation led by Wahid Mazhada, head of the Central Asia desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, went to Teheran three weeks ago to offer an apology and seek support.
"Teheran will still never accept the Taliban but they have invested a lot in Afghanistan and don't want to end up with a hostile pro-American government on their borders," said a Pakistani religious leader close to Mr Hekmatyar.
The Iranians paid a return visit to Kabul last month. A second Taliban delegation, led by Mullah Zain Mohammed, the deputy Defence Minister, is currently in the eastern Iranian city of Mashad.
Pakistan and Iran have long struggled for influence over Afghanistan and each had their own groups during the war against the Soviet Union. The Taliban could not have taken over Afghanistan without Pakistan's help, but its decision after September 11 to support America has left the field open.
Iran fears the return of king Zahir Shah could stir up support for the overthrown Iranian Pahlavi dynasty. Officially, Iran still backs the Northern Alliance, however, hardliners have long pushed for greater co-operation with the Taliban to regain power and influence in Afghanistan.
"It seems that some foreign analysts have convinced the ruling conservatives in Iran to lay a trap to American forces by enlarging the battle field to Iran and Iraq in order to deal Washington a humiliating military defeat", another analyst speculated.
Long as we have our guys over there we might as well mop up the rest of these countries. Better sooner than later. In Afghanistan all we'll be doing is special op hops and carpet bombing the Taliban whenever they get a hundred or so in the same place. This is light duty use of the forces we already have in place. Let's Roll!
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