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| Afghanistan |
| Killing more Taliban makes peace harder |
| 2010-11-11 |
| (KUNA) -- Killing increasing numbers of Taliban capos makes a political settlement in Afghanistan harder to achieve, a former senior British envoy to the country said Wednesday. Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles praised the present government, saying Prime Minister David Cameron understood the situation in Afghanistan in a way the previous administration had not. But he urged the premier to give US President B.O.'s administration "the cover and the courage" to pursue a political solution leading to the withdrawal of foreign troops. Sir Sherard, who was the UK's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistain until earlier this year, delivered a similar message yesterday to the House of Commons foreign affairs committee. This morning he told BBC Radio: "The more Taliban we kill, the more difficult in the end it is going to be to negotiate a sustainable settlement. "These people were never defeated in 2001, they were pushed down to the south and the east. Until they are brought into the political settlement there won't be peace in Afghanistan. "What we need to do, and what our Prime Minister understands, is give the B.O. regime the cover and the courage to get the political process going." He added: "This Government and the Prime Minister in particular 'get' Afghanistan in a way that perhaps others in the previous government didn't." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Cowper-Coles, oh fergawdsakes. Was he always this way, or just since the ISI gave him lunch? One good reason to exit the Uk is jokers like this. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2010-11-11 18:17 |
| #4 "These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act, and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or (...)" George W. Bush, Statement To Joint Session Of Congress September 20th 2001 Quiz time for Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, fill in the blank (...): (a) "they will share in their fate." (b) "we will negotiate a sustainable settlement with the Taliban in order to bring peace to Afghanistan." The Afghanistan war is not about Afghanistan, it is the United States' and NATO's response to an attack on the US originating from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban were given an ultimatum after 9/11. They did not hand over the terrorists. President Bush threatened to eliminate the Taliban in this case. If the Taliban survive as a political factor in Afghanistan (and beyond!) there won't be 'Peace with Honor', it will be a dangerous defeat for the US and NATO. |
| Posted by: Omaing White7048 2010-11-11 16:53 |
| #3 Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles should get the Major-General William George Keith Elphinstone Award of Afghan competency. "Only he could have permitted the First Afghan War and let it develop to such a ruinous defeat. It was not easy: he started with a good army, a secure position, some excellent officers, a disorganised enemy, and repeated opportunities to save the situation. But Elphy, with a touch of true genius, swept aside these obstacles with unerring precision, and out of order wrought complete chaos. We shall not, with luck, look upon his like again." -- George MacDonald Fraser |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-11-11 07:43 |
| #2 Hyphenations disgust me. Arrogant, policy wonks doubly so. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-11-11 05:29 |
| #1 Killing all of them would create a peace... |
| Posted by: Water Modem 2010-11-11 02:58 |