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U.S. to Partner with Taliban...Instead of Killing Them
American Thinker ^ | May 18, 2011 | Andrew G. Bostom

Posted on 05/18/2011 8:48:12 PM PDT by This Just In

May 18, 2011

U.S. to Partner with Taliban...Instead of Killing Them

Andrew G. Bostom

As reported by the London Telegraph, new U.S. special envoy Marc Grossman, "Mr. Appeasement," ...err, "Mr Reconciliation," is busy completing the diplomatic side of our miserably failed COIN strategy which will deliver Afghanistan to the Taliban.

A Western official in Kabul confirmed the United States was in direct contact with the Taliban following a sea change in American policy this year. Marc Grossman, the replacement for special envoy Richard Holbrooke, has been nicknamed "Mr. Reconciliation" and told to focus efforts on trying to facilitate a political deal which would ease a US exit. "Those are no longer preconditions, they are being seen as negotiated outcomes," said the Western official. In February, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, said the US would no longer insist on preconditions such as the need for the Taliban to renounce al-Qaeda and accept the Afghan constitution. Such declarations could be made after a deal had been reached. The pursuit of "reconciliation" in Afghanistan will be high on the agenda in talks between Mr. Obama and Mr. Cameron in London next week.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghanistan
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To: This Just In

I don’t believe in /sarc tags, but to clarify, I’m not being completely serious here.

On a more real note, this is one of the initial steps to our withdrawal from Afghanistan. Now that we’ve made our point with the Taliban, we’re going to leave under amicable terms. We don’t want to fight each other for the next 100 years, and neither side is going anywhere under our ROE and their level of weaponry.

So, since we can’t beat them, and they can’t beat us, we’re going to part ways. Afghanistan isn’t going to end like WWII, it’s going to end like Vietnam. We’re going home, they’re staying, and hopefully it’ll be 50 years before we think of each other again.


21 posted on 05/18/2011 9:23:48 PM PDT by Steel Wolf ("There are moderate Muslims, but Islam itself is not moderate." - Ibn Warraq)
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To: Steel Wolf

Ah yes, I apologize for missing the sarcasm.

“...and hopefully it’ll be 50 years before we think of each other again.”

Sadly, Afghanistan will not end well. Judging by our current policies, this administration has a few objectives in their plan to withdraw from Afghanistan as well as Iraq. One of these objectives, and you can just refer to the OBL operation, is to discredit the Bush administration.

We all know that once US forces withdraw, the void will be filled by those who have the guns and power, which will be the Taliban.

The current administration will blame Bush for the mayhem which will inevitably ensue after our withdrawal. Don’t be surprised when liberal officials start to speak of “prosecution”, and, “war crimes” and the like in the same sentence after the Muslims assume power.


22 posted on 05/18/2011 9:36:00 PM PDT by This Just In (In America, RINO's belong in zoo's, not public office)
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To: This Just In

I do believe the only people this administration really wants to use deadly force on are Obama’s “Bitter Clingers” right here at home.


23 posted on 05/18/2011 9:36:20 PM PDT by Iron Munro (Every day we now throw away things people will kill for after TEOTWAWKI)
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To: This Just In

Nah - Obama just enjoys wiping foreign butts with the American flag.


24 posted on 05/18/2011 9:50:27 PM PDT by Jack Hammer (e)
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To: This Just In
This has been going from the get go - and madame hitlery met with tally leaders in LONDON in Jan 2010 - and they have been quietly conceding strategic districts to the Taliban since last year.....just pulling our troops out, without a fight, AND leaving behind large caches of weapons for the Taliban - that the Taliban gloated they would use against our troops - and they did.

With obummer's ROE, in 2009, our KIA’s doubled from the most deadly year of the war. In 2010, they tripled. In 2011, they are already on track to quadruple. And the MSM is silent. And the generals are silent.

And the women and girls will be plunged back into total and abject slavery - worse than slavery. And no one says a word.

On might think obummer is on the other side.

And none dare call it TREASON

25 posted on 05/18/2011 9:51:06 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (watch the other hand)
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To: This Just In
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, said the US would no longer insist on preconditions such as the need for the Taliban to renounce al-Qaeda and accept the Afghan constitution. Such declarations could be made after a deal had been reached.

ri-ight...

these people continue to amaze in their utter disdain for the American people as too stupid and obtuse to realize the blatant in-your-face lies.

come to think of it....

26 posted on 05/18/2011 9:58:17 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (watch the other hand)
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To: This Just In

The Taliban must be laughing up their sleeves... at least in a figurative sense, I’m not sure that’s literally possible.


27 posted on 05/18/2011 11:10:15 PM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
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To: Steel Wolf

So...we “lose” another war?


28 posted on 05/19/2011 12:31:02 AM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Age, skill, wisdom, and a little treachery always overcome youth and arrogance!)
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To: This Just In; All

If memory serves me correctly is this not the Marc Grossman who is friends with Joe Wilson/Valerie Plame? And who was probably the guy who discussed her name and position with Armitage before Armitage went and leaked it to the press?

I’m just trying to keep my scorecard current. ;)


29 posted on 05/19/2011 12:32:43 AM PDT by fiftymegaton (God Bless and Protect America)
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To: This Just In
According to the tally ban, this is bs. But then....it is muslims after all.

“To the Muslim Ummah” →New statement from Zabīhullah Mujāhid of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: “Remarks Regarding the Fresh Rumors of the Western Media”
Posted on May 18, 2011
by Aaron Y. Zelin

Yesterday, some Dailies which are the mouthpiece of the Western Colonialism and other media outlets that toe their line, once again, circulated a baseless rumors, following their other futile propaganda campaigns and tried to create suspicions about the policy of the Islamic Emirate. They claimed that representatives of the Islamic Emirate are engaged in direct talks with the Americans and are seeking to have an office opened in a given country.

We would like to say in clear words that the report of negotiation with the invaders or direct contact with them are mere futile rumors. Similarly, the allegation that Taliban want to open office in a certain country is not true. We have not asked for the opening of office in any country including Qatar. More than half of the country is under our control and we have active presence there. This is our permanent address which is evenly well known both to friends and enemies. None can deny our presence there nor we are people who lack address and country. The American invaders repeatedly spread rumors of negotiation without any proof instead of focusing on the essential and rationale solution of the issue. This portrays their weakness and is a sign of their uncertain policy. It seems, they are facing defeat in the war of Afghanistan and are confused and on the verge of losing the battle field. Moreover, they have entirely lost their patience versus the unprecedented sacrifices of the Afghan nation. This is why they catch at a straw like a drowning man and are trying to boost the morale of their defeated and fleeing Allies by resorting to rumors.

We want to say that the current struggle and jihad of our Muslim and Mujahid nation is not aimed at obtaining government slots, mundane amenities and comfortable life but we have a lofty objective before us and that is a complete freedom of the country, independence and establishment of purely Islamic regime and prosperity of the people. This is the objective for which we are braving the Global Colonialism with our chests as shields. We have never been deterred by any danger in this way and will keep up the sacred Jihad and struggle by offering our blood until complete freedom of our country is attained, the current invaders like the former ones are forced to flee our country. Thus, we will prove to the world once more that none can turn our country into a colony, nor the invaders will reach their wicked goals through this misadventure.

Zabihullah Mujahid

30 posted on 05/19/2011 12:59:52 AM PDT by MestaMachine (If you want to pillage,plunder,destroy, blaspheme,or defile, become a muslim, or name yourself obama)
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To: This Just In

They can be our ‘partner’.

First rule for our new partner. They have to protect Israel.


31 posted on 05/19/2011 2:05:24 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Steel Wolf
So, since we can’t beat them, and they can’t beat us, we’re going to part ways.

Sad, isn't it? We have a defense budget that is larger than the next 5 nations put together, yet we can't decisively beat an enemy stuck in the 9th century.

32 posted on 05/19/2011 3:48:13 AM PDT by Sarajevo (Avoid arguments with your wife about lifting the toilet seat by simply using the sink.)
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To: This Just In

What, exactly, have we been fighting the “good war” over there for?


33 posted on 05/19/2011 4:20:18 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: This Just In

When you KILL them, your chances of being double-crossed go down to approximately. . . . zero.


34 posted on 05/19/2011 4:44:54 AM PDT by politicalmerc (The whole earth may move, but God's throne is never shaken. I think I'll stand by Him..)
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To: This Just In

U.S. to Partner with Taliban...Instead of Killing Them

Where did *the Taliban* come from? When & how did they take power in Afghanistan about 3 decades ago? Factual answers to these questions may shed some light on our options in Afghanistan, where we've been, where we're going with them & why killing the Taliban in Afghanistan, as we've done, may not get us very far, depending on our objective(s).

My recollection is: we bombed Afghanistan back in 2001 because apparently the Taliban was protecting OBL and refused to give him up. Meantime, OBL, as it turned out, was living in Pakistan, in a mansion no less, for the past 9 & half yrs! and joined the not-so-dearly-departed earlier this month in Hell. So, now what?

Not claiming to have the answers. But, can tell you the following:

The Taliban or Taa-leh-baan, is a Pashtun tribe, that exists both in Afghanistan & more so in Pakistan. The Pashtuns are warlike & fiercely independent (call them nationalists) - their loyalties lie with their own Pashtun TRIBE & they like to operate autonomously.

But, the Taliban is Not Al-Qaeda (AQ). AQ is essentially & comparatively a foreign organization, which mostly consists of Wahhabi & Sunni ARABS.

Furthermore, it we could bear in mind that the Taliban & their harsh, fundamentalist Islamic ideology were not a native product of Afghanistan. The Afghans themselves mostly have strong mystical leanings, akin to Sufis. Taliban's Islamic practices & beliefs were imposed on Afghanistan by those coming from Pakistan, who were supported by Others.. Zbigniew Brzezinski ring a bell? At the time, "the Taliban" in Afghanistan were known by a different name i.e. "Mujahedin" who were trained & armed to fight the Soviets. When the Soviets left, "the mostly (Pakistani) Taliban stayed, and we in the West were perfectly OK with them & their fundamentalist Islamic ideology until after 9/11. Even then, "the Taliban" weren't responsible for 9/11 atrocities. According to us, the culprits were ALL Arabs who were part of AQ!

35 posted on 05/19/2011 5:10:47 AM PDT by odds
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To: This Just In

Because bargaining with Hitler had such a good outcome in 1942....

oh wait...


36 posted on 05/19/2011 5:36:41 AM PDT by Daisyjane69 (Michael Reagan: "Welcome back, Dad, even if you're wearing a dress and bearing children this time)
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To: coloradan

Evil traitor that thinks the world shall live as one (SEE THE UN AND NWO) while he appease his radical muslim terrorists I mean friends.


37 posted on 05/19/2011 6:53:09 AM PDT by Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid! (Allen West 2012 Make it happen!)
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To: dixiechick2000

We can call it whatever we want. I’m sure the Administration and the Pentagon will come up with some nice euphemism like “non-kinetic strategic de-advancement”.

Either way, it’s a fools errand. Pakistan built the Taliban, and rebuilds them whenever they get too battered. We pump billions into Pakistan, who double deals us 24/7/365. American taxpayer money, which we borrow from the Chinese or our grandchildren, is funding both sides of the fight.

As for our side, we’re fighting with both arms tied behind our back and our feet tied at the ankles. Every now and then we get an arm loose to pat ourselves on the back for being so smugly civilized.

Anyway, we chose this path ten years ago. If its more of this, or nothing, then nothing is looking pretty good.


38 posted on 05/19/2011 7:15:40 AM PDT by Steel Wolf ("There are moderate Muslims, but Islam itself is not moderate." - Ibn Warraq)
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To: Sarajevo

As General Sherman once said, “Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.”

Our wars end in the latter because our generals and leaders demand on the former. Ease for the nation and safety for the troops are noble ideas, but when they’re your #1 goals, you are destined to lose. And here we are.


39 posted on 05/19/2011 7:23:37 AM PDT by Steel Wolf ("There are moderate Muslims, but Islam itself is not moderate." - Ibn Warraq)
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To: This Just In
"Muslim outreach" again. . traitor. . treason. . words cannot convey. .
40 posted on 05/19/2011 8:03:55 AM PDT by Art in Idaho (Conservatism is the only hope for Western Civilization.)
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