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| Afghanistan |
| Obama being illogical - Taliban |
| 2009-03-10 |
| AFGHANISTAN'S Taliban today turned down as illogical US President Barack Obama's bid to reach out to moderate elements of the insurgents, saying the exit of foreign troops was the only solution for ending the war. Mr Obama, in an interview with the New York Times, expressed an openness to adapting tactics in Afghanistan that had been used in Iraq to reach out to moderate elements there. "This does not require any response or reaction for this is illogical," Qari Mohammad Yousuf, a purported spokesman for the insurgent group, said when asked if its top leader Mullah Mohammad Omar would make any comment about Mr Obama's proposal. "The Taliban are united, have one leader, one aim, one policy...I do not know why they are talking about moderate Taliban and what it means? "If it means those who are not fighting and are sitting in their homes, then talking to them is meaningless. This really is surprising the Taliban." In Iraq, the use of Sunni Muslim community leaders to employ their people to patrol their neighbourhoods has been credited as one of the main reasons behind sharp falls in violence. Mr Obama did point out that compared to Iraq, the situation was more complex in Afghanistan, where nearly 70,000 foreign troops, 38,000 of them American, are due to be joined in coming months by another 17,000 US soldiers. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has been leading Afghanistan since US-led troops overthrew the Taliban in an invasion in 2001, welcomed Mr Obama's proposal. The number of foreign troops in Afghanistan has risen steadily since Taliban's ouster after they refused to hand over al-Qaeda leaders responsible for the September 11 attacks on the US. So has the level of Taliban attacks against the Government and foreign forces, prompting Mr Obama to term Afghanistan as a top foreign policy priority for his new administration. Some Western politicians and military officers now say the war cannot be won by military means alone and a solution will have to involve some form of reconciliation. Yousuf said expulsion of foreign troops was the only solution for Afghanistan's spiraling violence. "Afghans know better how to decide about their destiny," he replied when asked if the Taliban were willing to hold talks with Karzai's Government should and when the troops leave. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #8 Is there such a thing as a moderate muslim? I know a few too, including some women professors in Iraqi universities (Sunni Arab and Kurd). They're a bit safer now but for a long time they were targets for the insurgents. |
| Posted by: lotp 2009-03-10 19:42 |
| #7 Norman, Coordinate. |
| Posted by: Harry Mudd 2009-03-10 18:52 |
| #6 Bambi looking for an exit strategy? All he needs to find is one Taliban look alike who offers to talk. Axlerod will create one, if necessary. Spend a few months in a talking song and dance, have Hillybill push a magic button, then "Bye bye!" |
| Posted by: Skunky Glins 5*** 2009-03-10 18:47 |
| #5 Isn't Barry a Star Trek geek? Then this'll probably really piss him off... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-03-10 13:58 |
| #4 The college professor is getting his lessons in reality this week |
| Posted by: Sheba Clomoger5915 2009-03-10 10:00 |
| #3 In fairness to Obama he probably meant to reach out to some of the tribes that are Taliban allies but who can be bribed, coerced or enticed to switch sides. Of course saying that way wouldn't have made the right sound. |
| Posted by: mhw 2009-03-10 08:57 |
| #2 Is there such a thing as a moderate muslim? Yes. I know a few. (At least I think I know them - better than W. knew Putin.) But they are either rare, or very discrete about their moderation. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-03-10 08:15 |
| #1 The Taliban are united, have one leader, one aim, one policy...I do not know why they are talking about moderate Taliban and what it means? Bambi you need to know their mindset you are either a believer like themselves or an infidel no middle ground! Is there such a thing as a moderate muslim these days?They all want the same thing a world governed by Islamic/Gods law! |
| Posted by: Paul2 2009-03-10 07:53 |