Posted on 06/09/2002 10:39:45 AM PDT by Dog Gone
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A senior Taliban official said he approached U.S. representatives three years ago for help in replacing the hard-line Islamic leadership but was told Washington was leery of becoming involved in internal Afghan politics, the former official said Sunday.
Mullah Mohammed Khaksar, a former Taliban intelligence chief and later Afghan deputy interior minister, said he met with U.S. diplomats Gregory Marchese and J. Peter McIllwain in Peshawar, Pakistan, in April 1999 and told them he wanted to oust Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar because of his support for Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network.
The two Americans promised to contact Washington, Khaksar said. Later, he received a letter -- which he showed to The Associated Press -- from Marchese saying the United Sates was nervous about backing Afghan factions because of its experience supporting hardline Islamic movements during the war against the Soviets.
``We don't want to make mistakes like we made in the holy war,'' Marchese said in the letter, written in Afghanistan's Pashto language and translated by Khaksar. ``We gave much help and it later went against us.''
Marchese added that ``my boss is interested'' -- without identifying him by name. However, Khaksar said that was his last contact with the Americans.
Marchese, now posted in Washington, confirmed the meeting with Khaksar but refused to say what was discussed.
``I can confirm that I met Mullah Khaksar, then the Taliban regime's deputy interior minister, at my home in Peshawar in April 1999,'' Marchese said in an e-mail. ``I can't get into the content of the meeting, however.''
It was unclear whether Khaksar's overture was relayed to the highest levels of the Clinton Administration. Nor is it clear whether the United States lost an opportunity to neutralize bin Laden and his Taliban protectors before the devastating attacks of Sept. 11.
The State Department on Sunday said it had ``no immediate comment'' on Khaksar's comments.
Khaksar, a founding member of the Taliban, said he contacted the Americans because he feared the Islamic movement had been hijacked -- first by Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency and then by bin Laden and his al-Qaida group.
Khaksar said he and others in the Taliban wanted to ``keep Afghanistan for Afghans'' but found themselves marginalized because of bin Laden's influence over Mullah Omar. Bin Laden donated suitcases full of money to finance the Taliban's war-effort against the northern-based alliance led by the late guerrilla leader, Ahmed Shah Massood.
Mullah Omar, meanwhile, had fallen under the influence of bin Laden and a clique of Afghan clerics who were graduates from Pakistani religious schools with links to Pakistani intelligence.
``They told him he could be the leader of all the Muslims, bring all Muslims together,'' said Khaksar, who lives in Kabul. ``What were they doing? It wasn't Afghanistan anymore. My thinking was that they would destroy my country.''
To meet the Americans, Khaksar journeyed to Pakistan, telling associates he needed medical treatment for a stomach ailment. After a brief stay in Islamabad's Shifa Hospital, he stopped in Peshawar on his way home.
Some low-ranking Taliban friends introduced him to an American teacher at a Christian school, who told him to telephone the Peshawar consulate and mention his name. Kkaksar refused to identify the teacher.
Khaksar said Marchese asked to meet at his home rather than the consulate so that Pakistani intelligence would not learn of the meeting.
``He was there with two other men, an American and an Afghan interpreter,'' Khaksar said. ``He asked me: 'What do you want from us and what can you give us about Osama bin Laden?'''
Khaksar said he told the Americans that he was worried about bin Laden's Arab associations because ``one day they would do something in the world, but everything would be on the head of Afghanistan.''
Khaksar said he told the Americans that Mullah Omar's clique could be undermined through political action inside Afghanistan.
``I told them the Taliban militarily are too strong, but politically you can defeat them. I told them it is not something you can do in one or two days, but it can be done,'' he said.
Before leaving, Khaksar said he tore in half a Pakistani five rupee note and gave one part if it to Marchese.
``If anyone comes to you and says they represent me, ask them for my half of the five rupee note,'' Khaksar told Marchese. ``If he doesn't have it, don't believe him. He is a fake.''
Aside from the letter, Khaksar said he never heard from U.S. officials again. In his letter, Marchese reminded him of the $5 million U.S. reward -- since raised to $25 million -- for bin Laden.
``But for me, it wasn't bin Laden that I wanted a program for,'' Khaksar said. ``But for the Americans, it was. For me, it was my country. I was waiting for a program from the Americans, a program to defeat the Taliban and a program to hand over bin Laden.
``Back then, bin Laden's security was not so tight. It was easier to get him. But people would not be crazy enough to try to kill bin Laden unless they could be guaranteed of support behind them.''
Exactly!
The Klinton administration was the most anti-American admin to every occupy the office. As you so eloquently point out, his administration spent most of it's time attacking America and Americans, i.e., Tobacco companies, Waco, Ruby Ridge, gun makers and owners, Pharmaceuticals, large and small businessmen, White people, the US Military, Elian Gonzalez, I can't possibly remember all of them...
The agenda is one of democratic rule forever. If Gore had gotten into office, we'd have more of the same nonsense, but maybe not a recession. Clinton had engineered a recession before leaving office. The recession would be blamed on Bush. Then, we'd go to war, because of old enemies that Clinton didn't take care of. Clinton had greatly destroyed our intelligence gathering capability, not to mention crippled and demoralized our military. He thought we'd probably lose the war in Afghanistan, or lose a war with any foreign nation.
We are at war with Muslim extremists. Islam is one of the biggest religions that people follow in the world. Coincedently, so is Catholicism. Muslims are being vilified in the press, as are Catholics. I find it interesting that not only is our country under new governmental authrorities, that religion is also coming under fire from all sides as well. I honestly believe the agenda to destroy our country is being engineered by those in government, and by those of foreign governments.
Our nation is being balkanized by foreigners, both illegal, and imported in by our own government. The influx of illegal immigrants from all countries, creates the oppurtunities for crime, drug trafficking, and Terrorism. THe influx of illegal immigration diminishes wages, and creates more dependance on the government, through welfare programs. Thus the need to raise taxes. Now, this seems harmless enough but when you have things happen like terrorist attacks, or school shootings, you get government involved with the limitation, or the taking of your individual freedoms. The illegal immigration problem also creates lower wages for everyone. Why hire an American at a wage they're worth, when you can hire illegals for half the price?
The conspiracy is afoot. The assault on American values, and American freedoms is coming from all sides, and from within. Our nation is being devoured by jackals. Nobody sees the big picture, and if they do, they bury their heads in the sand. If we want a safer nation, a nation of freedom, then we need governmental reform on all levels. All politicians should be tenuring their resignations for failing to do their chief duty, protecting the citizens of this once great nation. Then, once the old guard are out, we can then put in people who are interested in the sole aim of making American the greatest nation on Earth again.
Right now, with the socialist democrats in power, and the Republicans in name only crowd running things, we are on a fast track to turning into an oligarchaic state, where the business and governmental elite live in opulence, while the rest of the nation lives in squalor. The agenda is about totalitarian power, and with the destruction of our nation, the rest of the world's freedom will die with it. That is the agenda, that is their purpose. Sorry to be gloom and doom, but it's true. This war on terrorism is nothing. Our men overseas are fighting people who were used. They are searching for a wealthy man, who will never be found, because as we all know Money can buy you freedom. Especially if you're useful. Osama Bin Laden is the great spectre by which all terror will spawn forth from. We will never get Bin Laden, nor will the war on terror end. It will expand, and it will expand to many people who speak the truth. Militias, and people who believe in the second amendment will be singled out if we're not careful. There's no sunset clause on the power the FBI, CIA, and NSA have now. Oppression is coming, watch wait and see.
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