America floats plan to tempt Taliban into peace process

[Bozita]

Source: Guardian (UK), The Observer

America floats plan to tempt Taliban into peace process
Jason Burke in Kabul
The Observer, Sunday 22 March 2009
Article history


America has signalled a radical new initiative to bring the Taliban into the Afghan political process as part of growing efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the war in Afghanistan.

The US ambassador to Kabul told the Observer that America would be prepared to discuss the establishment of a political party, or even election candidates representing the Taliban, as part of a political strategy that would sit alongside reinforced military efforts to end the increasingly intractable conflict.

The move will cause concern among allies struggling to keep pace with rapidly evolving US policy.

Other ideas being discussed include changing the Afghan constitution as part of potential negotiations, taking senior Taliban figures off UN blacklists to establish dialogue and possible prisoner releases.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/22/us-policy-afghanistan-taliban-dialogue

[EFerrari]

1. Taliban says they dont want in unless all foreign troops leave.

And there's the rub, right there.

[Prometheus Bound]

2. Still, four separate negotiations going on. That's positive.

Three apparently brokered by ex-Taliban leaders.

1. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, former PM. Two weeks ago Hekmatyar's representatives and government emissaries met in a hotel in Dubai, according to Senator Arsala Rahmani, a former Taliban minister who is a key intermediary.

2. Rahmani also claims to have been in touch with Jalaluddin Haqqani, a veteran militant behind a series of bloody attacks in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan.

3. Other contacts include those between Taliban leaders and President Hamid Karzai's brother.

4. Contacts brokered by a group of ex-Taliban leaders now living under amnesty in Kabul including Abdul Salam Zaeef, former ambassador to Pakistan. Nato and EU officials have met Zaeef to discuss Taliban demands.

A Pakistan-Afghan "jirga", or assembly of elders, has established a "reconciliation committee" to "reach out to extremists".

This gets a recommendation from me!

[EFerrari]

5. Well, I wish them all well, that's for sure. No more needless deaths!

[earcandle]

9. how do yo recommend someone or an article?

[Prometheus Bound]

12. At the bottom of the box of the opening post.

Click the recommend button, third from the left. Use it liberally!:)

[soothsayer]

3. the taliban can kiss my ass after blowing up the Bamiyan Buddhas

[McCamy Taylor]

4. "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him"

Another of my favorites is "The Buddha is a dried shit stick."

Acknowledging that members of the Taliban are only human (i.e. not monsters) is a necessary first step to peace. We can not do that if we continue our dualist approach, labeling them as "evil" and our military mission in their country as "good". The US kills civilians in Afghanistan, too. Our first goal should be to protect lives---which means ending the combat. Stone carvings mean little compared to even a single human life.

[EFerrari]

6. I'm all for negotiating with the Taliban. What I can't figure out is how to

do that and secure the rights of Afghani women. We CANNOT allow their rights to be thrown away in this process. A study I once read found that one of the best predictors of a society's violence was their treatment of women. I have no reason to disbelieve that conclusion.

[Coventina]

7. What the Taliban did to the Bamiyan Buddhas is symbolic of

what they think of anyone who isn't in their little clique.

Nobody's beliefs, rights, or safety matters to them.

If you think they are interested in making "peace" with anyone, I have a bridge to Brooklyn to sell you....

[timtom]

13. But, By God! This administration is stepping up to the plate

in a diplomatic and intelligent fashion.

This is what I voted for.

(cf. President Obama's address to Iran.)

[btwhiteh]

8. What we need to do is give them money and a way to defend themselves.

Oh we tried that with Osama Bin Laden. Maybe just keeping our guns pointed at them is better. I'm sure the Afghan women will agree.

[earcandle]

10. Thank Gopod! We are in dire need of some peace.

[bird gerhl]

11. That means we're winning, right?

Right...?