Negotiate with Taliban?

[trex]

"Afghan President Hamid Karzai has offered the Taliban a position in government if the group renounces violence, and Defence Minister Peter MacKay has supported the proposal."

Web Page

29/09/2007

"We do not negotiate with terrorists'"

Friday, August 31, 2007

Web Page

"Canada's military commander in Afghanistan says negotiating with the Taliban doesn't lead anywhere."

Sept. 1 2007

Web Page

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hmm... so now we envisage a government that possibly includes the dreaded taliban? i mean, im all for the idea of a negotiated peace but... arent they spose to be the worst of all the islamofacists?

and if we do that now, why couldnt we do it before this war started, before we sent our troops to fight them, only to invite them back to the table. or rather, why did we go in at all

[August1991]

There is a pre-condition to such a negotiation (or place in government):

...if the group renounces violence...

Edited September 30, 2007 by August1991

[noahbody]

why couldnt we do it before this war started, before we sent our troops to fight them, only to invite them back to the table. or rather, why did we go in at all

So you're asking why didn't we offer the Taliban government a position in government? Brilliant!

[Fortunata]

So now in addition to Taliban Jack (a suggestion for which he was roundly denigrated by the "new" government) we have Taliban Maxime and Taliban Peter. Interesting turn of affairs (read flip flop).

[August1991]

So now in addition to Taliban Jack (a suggestion for which he was roundly denigrated by the "new" government) we have Taliban Maxime and Taliban Peter. Interesting turn of affairs (read flip flop).

Flip flop?

Karzai is asking the Taliban to renounce violence. Layton never asked such. (Perhaps because if Layton had asked, he would have looked foolish.)

Edited September 30, 2007 by August1991

[Fortunata]

Flip flop?

Karzai is asking the Taliban to renounce violence. Layton never asked such. (Perhaps because if Layton had asked, he would have looked foolish.)

I don't think that Layton outlined in detail what the the conditions would be. Dialog was the key and take it from there. Which really is neither here nor there since the Harpercons derided him for it to the extent he was called Taliban Jack (I can think of better names most of which include the word idiot). Now the very people that said, (deep Steve voice here), we will not negotiate with terrorists are saying negotiating is a good idea. That's the flip flop, which seems to the the m.o. of this government. They shoot their mouths off, wait awhile hoping the public will forget the original policy or utterance then do what they said they wouldn't. Good "new" government we have here.

[Shakeyhands]

Flip flop?

Karzai is asking the Taliban to renounce violence. Layton never asked such. (Perhaps because if Layton had asked, he would have looked foolish.)

LOL! Apologist.

[old_bold&cold]

Personally I am all for having talks with all of the highest Taliban leaders in and around Afghanistan. We can feed them and give them drinks all atgged with nuclear markers, so we can track them easier after the alks have finished. That way we will know exactly where they are and be able to direct our forces efforts at bringing these people to justice. Sounds like an excellent way to get the upper hand in all of this.

[Shakeyhands]

Personally I am all for having talks with all of the highest Taliban leaders in and around Afghanistan. We can feed them and give them drinks all atgged with nuclear markers, so we can track them easier after the alks have finished. That way we will know exactly where they are and be able to direct our forces efforts at bringing these people to justice. Sounds like an excellent way to get the upper hand in all of this.

thats a great idea.....

[Wilber]

The Taliban says no.

[Peter F]

The Taliban says no.

and the negotiating begins..

[Borg]

Any agreement today will be null and void tomorrow.

The koran allows an islamic to lie with impunity to a non-believer - as long as it allows the believer to further the cause.

Borg

[Peter F]

Any agreement today will be null and void tomorrow.

The koran allows an islamic to lie with impunity to a non-believer - as long as it allows the believer to further the cause.

Borg

But Karzai is a believer

[Borg]

But Karzai is a believer

And your point is?

I stand by my statement because there will be western interests represented and many non-believers at the table.

Borg

[Peter F]

And your point is?

I stand by my statement because there will be western interests represented and many non-believers at the table.

Borg

The Western interests will be at Karzai's table but they won't be going with Karzai to see the Taliban.

[Borg]

The Western interests will be at Karzai's table but they won't be going with Karzai to see the Taliban.

I am glad you believe that.

Borg

[trex]

The Western interests will be at Karzai's table but they won't be going with Karzai to see the Taliban.

exactly, the best idea is for muslims to talk to muslims and resolve the problem. there are millions of peaceful muslims who do not believe the literal meaning of the old books fundamentally, because times have changed. they want peace too. so we must work with these freedom loving muslims to marginalize the radical ones, not fear and attack all muslims. attacking them directly with western armies only has the opposite effect, further radicalization.

peace be upon you,

Edited October 1, 2007 by tbud

[Rue]

exactly, the best idea is for muslims to talk to muslims and resolve the problem. there are millions of peaceful muslims who do not believe the literal meaning of the old books fundamentally, because times have changed. they want peace too. so we must work with these freedom loving muslims to marginalize the radical ones, not fear and attack all muslims. attacking them directly with western armies only has the opposite effect, further radicalization.

peace be upon you,

Then don't forget to reach out to non Muslims too. Some of us including this Jew wish you well if this is your true spiritual destiny and purpose and would and will support you as well. Your family does not end with just peace loving Muslims it just begins.

[M.Dancer]

But Karzai is a believer

Not according to the Taliban. They believe he is an apostate and so is ant muslim who dares disagree with their infalible opinions.

[Higgly]

and the negotiating begins..

Heh heh. Exactly. I believe that Steve Harper is an apostate, and I would never deign to talk to him, but if he were to denounce George Bush....

[AngusThermopyle]

Would this be the same Taliban who just hung a teenager because he had some American money on him? They stuffed five American dollar bills in his mouth as a warning to others. Sounds like the kind of people we should be negotiating with if you ask me.

[Borg]

Would this be the same Taliban who just hung a teenager because he had some American money on him? They stuffed five American dollar bills in his mouth as a warning to others. Sounds like the kind of people we should be negotiating with if you ask me.

Gently now - this is simply another example of Americans causing a rift in one of the societies of the world.

It has nothing to do with the people that did the dasdardly deed.

Or does it?

Borg

[DogOnPorch]

Predictably, the Taliban have refused to negotiate and keep on with their 'no peace until the UN leaves' line of thinking.

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We cannot allow this country to be influenced by mafia and narcotics-related activities. It kills our economy. It destroys our reputation. So we are going to work against it.

---Hamid Karzai

[old_bold&cold]

As it would seem the Taliban do not have the wish yet to sit down and talk. That means they have no wish to soften their position on any of the issues. They probably see that right now they are in a position where they can find support for their causes within the rural communities of Afghanistan. I can see that from their own view, there would be no reason for wanting to negoiate with the government, as they already feel that they have the upper hand at attacking and causing terror, in the cites and surrounding areas, so why would they want to change that?

The elctions in Pakistan will soon be coming and if they oust the president, then that will be a blow for the NATO mission, but it also may well have the USA deciding to take the fight across the border and into Pakistan, and that would be bloody and messy, with loads of repercussions to it. But it difenitely would change many things in Afghanistan for the better. The Taliban might then see the need for some talks, as their safe haven would then be not very safe, and death would be on their minds in more ways then suicide bombing. There definitely would be a shift from the south maybe to the western borders with Iran etc. I do think that there has to be some kind of push to change the status quo, before the Taliban will even hint at talking. Maybe the more military planners could say what and where that push would have to be, but for right now it would seem that everything is to everyones liking.

[jbg]

So you're asking why didn't we offer the Taliban government a position in government? Brilliant!

Methinks certain posters would like the Canadian government to reserve a few key ministries for the Taliban to control.