Sources: Taliban split with al Qaeda, seek peace

[JesterCS]

Source: CNN

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Taliban leaders are holding Saudi-brokered talks with the Afghan government to end the country's bloody conflict -- and are severing their ties with al Qaeda, sources close to the historic discussions have told CNN.

The militia, which has been intensifying its attacks on the U.S.-led coalition that toppled it from power in 2001 for harboring Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, has been involved four days of talks hosted by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, says the source.

The talks -- the first of their kind aimed at resolving the lengthy conflict in Afghanistan -- mark a significant move by the Saudi leadership to take a direct role in Afghanistan, hosting delegates who have until recently been their enemies.

They also mark a sidestepping of key "war on terror" ally Pakistan, frequently accused of not doing enough to tackle militants sheltering on its territory, which has previously been a conduit for talks between the Saudis and Afghanistan.

According to the source, fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar -- high on the U.S. military's most-wanted list -- was not present, but his representatives were keen to stress the reclusive cleric is no longer allied to al Qaeda.

Read for more.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/06/afghan.saudi.talks/index.html

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Hrm. so wonder what Bush/McCain are going to say now that the taliban is willing to talk/negotiate/cease hostilities

[Coventina]

1. I believe the Taliban are willing to break with al Qaeda.

But I don't believe for one minute that they are interested in "peace" as we would define it.

They want concessions from us to run their own little kingdom in exchange for being "anti-terrorist".

on edit: I believe we should talk with them, hear what they have to say and all that. But I wouldn't trust them AT ALL.

on further edit: a condition for "peace talks" would be the handing over of all who were involved in planning and executing 9/11. That might give them some credibility to prove their "change of heart."

[Marrah_G]

2. Fuck the Taliban- They want POWER not peace.

They are willing to break for Al Queda if we allow them to go back to raping, terrorizing, torturing and enslaving anyone with a vagina.

They need to go back to their homes, STFU and learn to live like civilized human beings.

[Coventina]

3. Don't forget murdering!

They love to murder women too, for any "reason" they can think of.

:puke:

[Marrah_G]

4. Afghanistan should outlaw Taliban views and form of government.

In the meantime we should be giving ANY Afghani woman who wants one a free pass into the US.

[shadowknows69]

10. All due respect Marrah

But I don't see their power subsiding while Afghanistan is an occupied country. The Afghani people need to kick these extremists out. It can't be done just at the point of NATO's guns. We need to embolden the people, with money, guns, whatever and then reinforce their infrastructure like we failed to do in the 80's, but ultimately Afghanistan is never going to solve its problems with outside military influence. Our status in the world is just too shaky and our continued presence anywhere is simply a means of recuitment for groups like the Taliban et al. We need to start mending fences with the people, then we can rebuild something there that can last.

[Marrah_G]

12. I agree with you

The Afghani's need to keep these people out of power. Unfortunately if we leave right now the Taliban, through heroin trade are the ones with the money and guns and will quickly take back over.

It is a very difficult situation and I look forward to seeing an Obama administration's approach to solving the problem there. I have high hopes that he can both turn the country around AND get us out of there in every way.

In the meantime my hatred for the Taliban will never lessen. They should never, for one moment, be allowed to hold any power, anywhere.

[shadowknows69]

15. I hope Obama has a better plan for it too

Because as far as the Poppy business that was one of Bushie's reasons for taking on the Taliban and it's only grown exponentially since we "vanquished" them. I wholly believe this was by design and cronies of the cabal are probably stuffing off shore accounts with drug money. The CIA are the best drug runners in the business after all.


edit to add: I don't think it's an accident that heroin has made a horrifying resurgance in young users.

[EFerrari]

13. Imho, this is to stop US raids into Pakistan. The ISI may be offering

this as quid pro quo.

[shadowknows69]

16. Could be, because they know Obama will go after them there

As we have been for months now anyway. This does feel like a shady insurance policy.

[olddad56]

17. oh, and the Bush admin wants peace not power?

[Marrah_G]

18. Since when can there not be more then one bad guy in the world?

What an odd post.

[maxsolomon]

5. despite their medieval ignorance, talks can't hurt

the sunni awakening had talks. and cash. lots of cash.

[Infinite Hope]

6. Beware the Trojan Horse. n/t

[groovedaddy]

7. The Taliban are throwbacks and shouldn't be allowed back in power. Bush & co

screwed this up royally by opting to focus on Iraq.
I often wonder if the military industrial complex and their toadies aren't behind this stuff...keeping the wheels of war turning.

[shadowknows69]

11. I wonder that too

I don't think ultimately anyone can really eliminate the Taliban except the Afghani people.

[EFerrari]

14. It is -- the Pakistanis. n/t

[torbird]

8. Rovian TRAP!!!!

It's been like three minutes since anyone posted something about a Rovian trap on DU. You're welcome.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. They must have finally run out of historical monuments to dynamite.

All good things eventually come to an end, eh, guys?

[robcon]

19. The idea that the Taliban will compromise with the Afghan goverment is loony.

People who won't let people fly kites, and arrest girls who go to school, are not about to come up with a "peace" agreement, IMO.

[truthisfreedom]

20. Then bring us Bin Laden's head.

[onager]

21. But "the people" = tribal warlords

Most of them not much better than the Taliban when it comes to human rights. Especially women's rights. And that judgment comes from people who damn well ought to know--the Revolutionary Association of Women in Afghanistan.

The Human Rights Watch website has some interesting reading on this subject.

The West supported the best of the warlords, Ahmed Shah Massoud of the Northern Alliance (until he was killed just before 9/11). But even his troops went around forcing women back into the burqa, etc.

e.g., here are the groups that made up the Western-backed United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan. Can you spot the common thread?

Islamic Movement of Afghanistan - Shia, led by Ayatollah Muhammad Asif Muhsini.
Islamic Party of Afghanistan - Mainly Persian-speaking Tajiks
Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan - Pashtun, led by Abdul Rasul Sayyaf.
Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan - Shia Hazaras
National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan - Uzbeks and former communists.

(List stolen from Wikipedia)

[livelongandprosper]

22. Fuck them. With or without al Qaeda they are a piece of shit n/t