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Secret talks to end the war in Afghanistan have begun between representatives of the Taliban and the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, The Washington Post reported on its website Tuesday night.

Afghan and Arab sources cited by the Post said they believe for the first time that Taliban representatives are fully authorized to speak for the Quetta Shura, the Afghan Taliban organization based in Pakistan, and its leader, Mohammad Omar, according to the newspaper. The sources requested anonymity to discuss the development.

Omar's representatives have shunned negotiations in the past, insisting that all foreign troops withdraw first.

However, the Post reported that its sources said the Quetta Shura has begun to talk about a comprehensive agreement that would include participation of some Taliban figures in the government and the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops.

The source told the Post said the leadership of the Taliban believed "they are going to be sidelined."





Is this a result of the positive peace-seeking environment created by President Obama or the result of the clatter of guns and bombs. I think it's a combo of both.

Discuss, spin, exaggerate, hate, etc.

I think Henry Kissinger is directly involved.

It makes for a good media talking point, but I have as much faith in this succeeding as I do in the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks. The Taliban (IMO) is far too splintered to all be on the same page on peace talks - there will always be some rogue factions running kamikaze raids or strapping bombs to themselves to further their causes. Sad, but I'm afraid true.

Have they been bombed into submission? Doubtful, but maybe. Could be they need a ceasefire to regroup and recruit before starting all over again. These tribes and factions have been fighting for hundreds of years over patches of sand, and I really don't see that changing any time soon - especially with our involvement.

Ivytalk wrote:I think Henry Kissinger is directly involved.

Either that or Jimmy.

ASUG8 wrote:It makes for a good media talking point, but I have as much faith in this succeeding as I do in the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks.

I have less.

The only reason the Taliban is willing to talk is because they are getting their towel headed asses kicked, have been driven into a tribal shithole the size of a matchbox in Pakistan, and are shitting their drawers everytime a shadow passes overhead in fear of a drone toting a bomb with their name on it.

If anything, it is positive reinforcement that our efforts are not in vain. It is also NOT the time to let up, it is time to FINISH the job once and for all. Wipe 'em out. 100% annihilation. Period. End of story.

blueballs wrote:The only reason the Taliban is willing to talk is because they are getting their towel headed asses kicked, have been driven into a tribal shithole the size of a matchbox in Pakistan, and are shitting their drawers everytime a shadow passes overhead in fear of a drone toting a bomb with their name on it.

If anything, it is positive reinforcement that our efforts are not in vain. It is also NOT the time to let up, it is time to FINISH the job once and for all. Wipe 'em out. 100% annihilation. Period. End of story.

Isn't that genocide?

Karzai is about as crooked as they come. Cannot be trusted, period. He'll make a deal with whomever it takes to keep his family's poppy fields shipping smack to Europe.

Regardless what we do, Afghanistan is going to be a hole for a long, long time. Might as well find a way to declare victory and bug out of there. We'll have to go back in in about 10-20 years again and clear out the more organized riff raff, but we'll have to do that regardless of what we do right now. No sense overstaying our welcome.

93henfan wrote:Karzai is about as crooked as they come. Cannot be trusted, period. He'll make a deal with whomever it takes to keep his family's poppy fields shipping smack to Europe.

GannonFan wrote:Regardless what we do, Afghanistan is going to be a hole for a long, long time. Might as well find a way to declare victory and bug out of there. We'll have to go back in in about 10-20 years again and clear out the more organized riff raff, but we'll have to do that regardless of what we do right now. No sense overstaying our welcome.

Do the talks involve al qaeda and bin laden?

Think Obama will leave without the man they criticized Bush for not capturing.

Benne wrote:Isn't that genocide?

AFAIK the Taliban is not an ethnic, racial or religious group. They are a part of one, but not a whole one.

89Hen wrote:

Benne wrote:Isn't that genocide?

AFAIK the Taliban is not an ethnic, racial or religious group. They are a part of one, but not a whole one.

Perhaps militiacide?

kalm wrote:

89Hen wrote: AFAIK the Taliban is not an ethnic, racial or religious group. They are a part of one, but not a whole one.

Perhaps militiacide?

But that's a good thing.

89Hen wrote:

kalm wrote:
Perhaps militiacide?

But that's a good thing.

In this case, I agree.

GannonFan wrote:Regardless what we do, Afghanistan is going to be a hole for a long, long time. Might as well find a way to declare victory and bug out of there. We'll have to go back in in about 10-20 years again and clear out the more organized riff raff, but we'll have to do that regardless of what we do right now. No sense overstaying our welcome.

Perfect segue to the book "The Forever War" (Filkins). If anyone hasn't read it, I highly suggest it.

93henfan wrote:

GannonFan wrote:Regardless what we do, Afghanistan is going to be a hole for a long, long time. Might as well find a way to declare victory and bug out of there. We'll have to go back in in about 10-20 years again and clear out the more organized riff raff, but we'll have to do that regardless of what we do right now. No sense overstaying our welcome.

Perfect segue to the book "The Forever War" (Filkins). If anyone hasn't read it, I highly suggest it.

The Falkans War? I was totally in for Argentina in that one.

Cap'n Cat wrote:

93henfan wrote:
Perfect segue to the book "The Forever War" (Filkins). If anyone hasn't read it, I highly suggest it.

The Falkans War? I was totally in for Argentina in that one.

I usually side with the underdog as well.

Cap'n Cat wrote:

93henfan wrote:
Perfect segue to the book "The Forever War" (Filkins). If anyone hasn't read it, I highly suggest it.

The Falkans War? I was totally in for Argentina in that one.

Hay, chingar! Las Malvinas!

Ivytalk wrote:

Cap'n Cat wrote:

The Falkans War? I was totally in for Argentina in that one.

Hay, chingar! Las Malvinas!

Falklands, Balkans, who cares, right??