Osama bin Laden’s death may end Afghanistan war sooner than planned

[Playinghardball]

Source: Raw Story
By Stephen C. Webster

Word from the Obama administration is that with al Qaeda spiritual leader Osama bin Laden dead, U.S. forces may now have found the fast-track to exit the Afghan occupation.

It won't be easy, and it will require more than just political capital in the U.S., but unnamed officials tell The Washington Post's Rajiv Chandrasekaran that, with a negotiated settlement between America and the Taliban, the Afghan war's "endgame" will be nigh.

On one key front, the president can now put negotiators at the table with Taliban forces without being criticized for "negotiating with terrorists," Chandrasekaran noted. On another, Taliban faction leader Mohammad Omar will likely be under tremendous pressure to end his alliance with al Qaeda, breaking another key barrier to U.S. withdrawal.

"Bin Laden’s death is the beginning of the endgame in Afghanistan," an unnamed senior official reportedly said. "It changes everything."

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/06/osama-bin-ladens-death-may-end-afghanistan-war-sooner-than-planned/

[LiberalAndProud]

1. This is my fervent hope.

If it turns out to be so, I will put any remaining doubts about the legality or morality of Osama's execution to rest.

[Vincardog]

2. GREAT

[Capitalocracy]

3. I certainly hope this is true. nt

[backscatter712]

4. Can I use yet another Godfather analogy?

The key is that now we've made an example of Osama bin Laden, we can now call the Taliban bosses to the table, explain to them that we can do the same thing to them, and make them an offer they can't refuse.

[izquierdista]

6. I KNEW there was a resemblance!

[Connie_Corleone]

8. That usually works.

[Skittles]

5. it could, but it won't

that is my feeling

[NNN0LHI]

7. Recommended

[JTFrog]

9. The timeline is already in place to start withdrawal in July. n/t

[Kolesar]

10. Yes, it is not like we need "somebody's permission".

Send the moving vans!

[diane in sf]

11. Good excuse/reason. Afghanistan is where empires go to die.

[aj_cd]

12. Please let this be true

I don't have a clue if this is true. To me these wars left relm of facts and the rational long time ago if they ever were. None of it ever made sense to me. So trying to figure the end based on facts or sense is not possible for me.
I just hope for day they are history.

[emulatorloo]

13. thanks for posting. n./t

[gratuitous]

14. Sure it will

I mean, the monied interests who are and have been making a shitload of money off of this will just shrug and say, "Well, the gravy train was nice while it lasted. On to the next little enterprise." Anything's possible.

[Odin2005]

15. THANK GOD, It's about DAMN TIME.

[Cerridwen]

16. I hope this "unnamed senior official" is telling the truth.

Please, please, please.

[pacalo]

17. K&R!

[tekisui]

18. Would that it were so. I hope so.