Frist calls for Taliban to join Afghan government

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The war in Afghanistan can never be won and so efforts should instead be concentrated on bringing the Taliban into the Afghan government claims Bill Frist, leader of the U.S. Senate.

Frist said there are too many Taliban fighters with too much popular support to be defeated by military means.

"You need to bring them into a more transparent type of government," Frist said during a brief visit to a military base in the southern Taliban stronghold of Qalat. "And if that's accomplished we'll be successful."

But Frist said any decision to ask the Taliban to join the government would have to be made by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

He said the only way to win the war was to "assimilate people who call themselves Taliban into a larger, more representative government."

"Approaching counterinsurgency by winning hearts and minds will ultimately be the answer," said Frist, who will announce in the next month if he plans to run for the U.S. presidency.

In violence on Monday, a suicide bomber blew himself up next to a NATO convoy in the capital Kabul, wounding three soldiers and three civilians, while a roadside bomb in the eastern Paktia province killed three Afghan soldiers and wounded three others.

Afghanistan is being rocked by the worst outbreak of violence since the Taliban's ouster in late 2001. Militants are increasingly resorting to suicide attacks and roadside bombs.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1811

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Analogically, that's like saying "we can't control red fire-ants, so we'll just let the ecosystem adapt to them".

As they have been in control before, the Taliban have no interest in JOINING government, only in BEING it (and wiping out all rivals).

[Carol&Marc 0]

Sen. Mel Martinez, a Republican from Florida accompanying Frist on his trip, said negotiating with the Taliban is not "out of the question" but that fighters who refused to join the political process would have to be defeated.

Its funny how the U.K. paper didnt mention this statement they must have not thought it was not important!

All people should be included in a democracy. But keep up those radical ways! your toast!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Sen. Mel Martinez, a Republican from Florida accompanying Frist on his trip, said negotiating with the Taliban is not "out of the question" but that fighters who refused to join the political process would have to be defeated.

Its funny how the U.K. paper didnt mention this statement they must have not thought it was not important!

All people should be included in a democracy. But keep up those radical ways! your toast!

Also missing is the fact that Frist is not the first to make the call; Karzai had called upon Taliban members to surrender. The problem is that the top-leaders of the Taliban will never JOIN, as they are bloodthirsty tyrants ("minor" members might--considerable portion of them simply "merged into woodwork" of general Pashtun population after 2001).

[Carol&Marc 0]

Sen. Mel Martinez, a Republican from Florida accompanying Frist on his trip, said negotiating with the Taliban is not "out of the question" but that fighters who refused to join the political process would have to be defeated.

Its funny how the U.K. paper didnt mention this statement they must have not thought it was not important!

All people should be included in a democracy. But keep up those radical ways! your toast!

Also missing is the fact that Frist is not the first to make the call; Karzai had called upon Taliban members to surrender. The problem is that the top-leaders of the Taliban will never JOIN, as they are bloodthirsty tyrants ("minor" members might--considerable portion of them simply "merged into woodwork" of general Pashtun population after 2001).

EXACTLY, I think it had to do more with it being a REPUBLICAN LEADER saying it! Between Frist and Martinez they went over what they were gonna say to the press. But the good old press like to bend it just a little bit to make it look the way they like it!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

EXACTLY, I think it had to do more with it being a REPUBLICAN LEADER saying it! ...

Or maybe because visiting AMERICAN pol (in other words, Dem would have gotten same response).

Also, Karzai is not even the first Muslim national leader to promote such an idea--credit would have to go for that to the late Mujib(ur Rehman) of Bangladesh (who, in 1972, asked the Banglas to forgive Bengali collaborators with Pakistan government).

[almaty 19]

hmm... taliban on the ballot...sounds great

[Saddle Bronc 124]

hmm... taliban on the ballot...sounds great

But ain't gonna happen anymore than India's population dropping to 350 million.

[Mirorgate 0]

hmm... taliban on the ballot...sounds great

that kinda like creamed beef on toast?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

hmm... taliban on the ballot...sounds great

that kinda like creamed beef on toast?

more like kosher/halal proscuito (can't remember how to spell it, but it's ham-based italian meat).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Okay, so we place sanctions against the Palestinians because they voted to give Hamas more power, and we deem them to be a pro-terrorist group. The Taliban gave sanctuary for Osama, making them pro-terrorist and in fact the name Taliban has been used numerous times, syonomously with terrorism.

Bush Says Terrorist Threat Changing, Vows No Negotiations

http://www.voanews.com/burmese/2006-09-06-voa2.cfm

Are we changing our tune now?

Edited October 3, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[GaryC 7]

Okay, so we place sanctions against the Palestinians because they voted to give Hamas more power, and we deem them to be a pro-terrorist group. The Taliban gave sanctuary for Osama, making them pro-terrorist and fact their name has been used numerous times, syonomously with terrorism.

Bush Says Terrorist Threat Changing, Vows No Negotiations

http://www.voanews.com/burmese/2006-09-06-voa2.cfm

Are we changing our tune now?

The sanctions will be dropped when they recognise Israel and give up terrorism. If the palestinians want Hamas to lead them thats fine. But we don't have to give them money if they want to destroy an ally.

As far as the Talaban goes, if they give up the terrorism and the Afgans want them in the government then thats also fine. It's called DEMOCRACY!! Ever heard of it?

[Carol&Marc 0]

Okay, so we place sanctions against the Palestinians because they voted to give Hamas more power, and we deem them to be a pro-terrorist group. The Taliban gave sanctuary for Osama, making them pro-terrorist and in fact the name Taliban has been used numerous times, syonomously with terrorism.

Bush Says Terrorist Threat Changing, Vows No Negotiations

http://www.voanews.com/burmese/2006-09-06-voa2.cfm

Are we changing our tune now?

We DEEM them, They DEEMED themselves! WOW cant beleive what your saying!

http://kjbbn.net/9-11%20and%20the%20arab%2...n%20to%20it.htm

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Okay, so we place sanctions against the Palestinians because they voted to give Hamas more power, and we deem them to be a pro-terrorist group. The Taliban gave sanctuary for Osama, making them pro-terrorist and fact their name has been used numerous times, syonomously with terrorism.

Bush Says Terrorist Threat Changing, Vows No Negotiations

http://www.voanews.com/burmese/2006-09-06-voa2.cfm

Are we changing our tune now?

The sanctions will be dropped when they recognise Israel and give up terrorism. If the palestinians want Hamas to lead them thats fine. But we don't have to give them money if they want to destroy an ally.

As far as the Talaban goes, if they give up the terrorism and the Afgans want them in the government then thats also fine. It's called DEMOCRACY!! Ever heard of it?

Let me remind you just who the Taliban are... (which is part of the reason we invaded Afghanistan - to liberate the people from these tyrants).

The Taliban ("Students of Islamic Knowledge Movement") ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001. They came to power during Afghanistan's long civil war. Although they managed to hold 90% of the country's territory, their policies—including their treatment of women and support of terrorists—ostracized them from the world community. The Taliban was ousted from power in December 2001 by the U.S. military and Afghani opposition forces in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the U.S.

It seems a bit odd to be now inviting them to be part of the political process.

Edited October 3, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[GaryC 7]

Let me remind you just who the Taliban are... (which is part of the reason we invaded Afghanistan - to liberate the people from these tyrants).

The Taliban ("Students of Islamic Knowledge Movement") ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001. They came to power during Afghanistan's long civil war. Although they managed to hold 90% of the country's territory, their policies—including their treatment of women and support of terrorists—ostracized them from the world community. The Taliban was ousted from power in December 2001 by the U.S. military and Afghani opposition forces in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the U.S.

It seems a bit odd to be now inviting them to be part of the political process.

WE are not inviting them to anything. It's up to the Afgan people who they want to elect.