MSNBC: Powell may let Taliban remain in power if they hand over Osama bin Laden

9-26-2001 | MSNBC cable network banner

[Brian_Baldwin]

MSNBC just ran the notice on their rolling banner headlines, "Powell may let Taliban remain in power if they turn over Osama bin Laden".

I suppose we will hear a lot about how Powell only said "may" and not "will". Fine. Doesn't matter, because even if he said "may", well, then this "may" not be a war on terrorism.

The Bush Administration has said many things regarding this war on terrorism, things about accountability for those who harbor terrorists, but the same Bush Administration through Powell has said that the war on terrorism will be conducted in the same way as the war on drugs.

Speaking of the war on drugs, one of the Taliban's primary sources of hard currency funding comes from Afghan poppy production and distribution of heroin.

So much said for the war on drugs which hasn't been very effective against the Afghan heroin trafficking which has been funding the Taliban. And if we are going to fight the war on terrorism in the same way we are fighting the war on drugs, we've already lost the war. If MSNBC sources are correct in what Powell is saying, he is saying all the wrong things and giving the wrong signals to the Taliban and the Islamic terrorists throughout the world -- and if Powell is going to let the heroin dealing Taliban remain in power simply because they turn over the bearded dead body of Osama bin Laden, then we've lost the war against those who did this to our people, and we've certainly lost the war on terrorism. By the way, I didn't know that heroin trafficking was part of the Taliban Muslim religion. Have any of those Islamic clerics in Indonesia made any comment on this?

[Terry Mross]

Powell is not in charge. He's not even number two and I don't think he's even number three or number four. And if he resigns now history will show he's just a little snit who wanted to be appointed president but wouldn't run because he was afraid he'd get shot. Even Clinton was braver than that. You can see I don't like Powell. I predict he won't be around long. Right now he's probably more pissed than Clinton about Bush's popularity.

[okie_tech]

The only reason to sow this kind of disinformation is if you wish your enemies to think that you are vasilating, weak and cowardly and wish to be attacked on all sides. Not exactly the position our state department should be taking now is it? Only a psyco, and if this comes from Bush as you suggest that's what he is, would encourage WWIII by taking a weak stance for the purpose of disinformation.

[AppyPappy]

He's kowtowing to his "Alliance" partners. I'm surprised they haven't made him put on a clown suit and eat a live chicken for their enjoyment.

[Stallone]

MSNBC is a traitorous scum organization.

More evidence:

Just now, I previewed an article about Iran's refusal to participate in the alliance against terrorism.

A byline of the article says: "Supreme Leader warns against strike on Afghanistan."

The article is topped with a large picture of Paul Wolfowitz, a US military hawk advocating the demolition of the Taliban, showing him being pointed at defiantly by the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Europe, Ralston.

It took minutes and a careful re-reading for me to realize that this was a scam - the 'Supreme' Leader was actually the Iranian leader.

Who would choose this picture if not to cloud the minds of Americans?

Check it out - MSNBC are F*CKING TRAITORS

C*cks*ck*ers!

'Objective' journalists are the enemy within.

Fly your flag, b@st@rds, or choke on it.

[Terry Mross]

Thanks. I went out and got me a grip.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Good cop / bad cop.

[okie_tech]

Better ungrip it and get some oxygen, he doesn't know what he's talking about.

[Terry Mross]

I lost all respect for Powell when he refused to take a stand in Florida. He was playing both sides so that if Gore won he'd still have a chance to be SOS.

[hellinahandcart]

I agree with you. It's a "head fake". Some other cabinet member will contradict this before the day is over, and everyone will wonder which statement is the truth.

Not only that, but the 24-hour-news channels are not exactly being "restrained" about their ticker headlines. I've seen several of those headers contradict one another in the course of a minute.

[okie_tech]

Dumb cop/Dead cop

Disinformation is for military campaigns, NOT diplomacy.

When you are far you should appear to be near, When you are near you should appear to be far.-Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

[Neets]

OOH OOOH OOOOH the sky is falling...THE SKY IS FALLING...

Jeesh Brian.....PMSNBC IS NOW THE VOICE OF AUTHORITY HERE????????????

Get a grip....

[Terry Mross]

Right now I'm trying to find reason in everything. I don't want to be disappointed. But, I also believe that 7000 dead in NY and DC may be just the tip of the ice berg. I'm sure there are terrorists all over the place waiting to carry out their orders once we strike back. Five were stopped near my hometown in Arkansas doing 88 mph through town at 2:30 in the morning. Sounds like they were staying off the freeways. Now I've heard they've been released. This is scary and I work on commission. On the other hand, I'm flying to Vegas on Oct 10. What the hell? Might as well have one last fling, huh.

[Diojneez]

The only reason to sow this kind of disinformation is if you wish your enemies to think that you are vasilating, weak and cowardly and wish to be attacked on all sides.

This is NOT what Bush wants communicated to his base.

[okie_tech]

Of course, we're all trying to find reason in all this madness. Unfortunately the reason appears to be weakness,cowardice or foolishness in many of our leaders. We are perhaps seeing Chamberlains curse all over again. So far the terrorists are winning this one. No strikes, an alliance that seems poised to fracture at any given time, statehood for palestinians, talk of trials, justice and no death penalty, and comparing the war on terrorism to the war on drugs. Forget finding reason and find a hole to hide in.

[Steve0113]

PR and PR only! They have no plan to turn him over. We know that, but it provides us with the opportunity to remove them/destroy them and then claim: "Hey, we gave them the opportunity and they didn't take it!" That's my take on it anyway.

That's how it looks to me, too. Good PR move.

[Loopy]

Agreed with your 35. Isn't there a saying (Ocham's Razor?) Where there are two solutions for a given problem the simpler one is probably the right one? All of this COULD be disinformation, part of a grand scheme of deception, or it could be the truth.

[okie_tech]

"This is NOT what Bush wants communicated to his base"

That's what he has communicated to me. Granted I was never a fan of the annointed one but so far my opinion has not improved. He has been indecisive so far and that is extremely dangerous. The message given to these regimes is that terrorism works, and works well.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Does someone have the complete text of Powell's statement. MSNBC is not the President's press secretary and there could be a lot of context left out.

Britain, at least, is reported as eager to be a lawnmower to the grass of the Taliban if they don't cough up all the terrorists (not just bin Laden). I believe Powell's "may" won't come to pass. The Taliban will stiffen their necks and they will get creamed.

[kjam22]

I'd bet you $20 that we strike a deal with the Taliban... a deal that you and I hate. We are looking for a way out of this thing besides war. We are begging for a way out of it.