Taliban, US in new round of peace talks

[bemildred]

Source: Asia Times

KARACHI - The few weeks between the visits to Pakistan of Richard Boucher, the US assistant secretary of state who left last week, and Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, who arrives on September 10, could prove crucial in determining the fate of Afghanistan.

This is the timeline for secret three-party talks to establish teega (a Pashtu word for a peace deal that resolves a conflict) between the Western coalition forces in Afghanistan (with Pakistan), the Afghan government, and the anti-coalition insurgents of Afghanistan. The first round of talks has already begun in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, Asia Times Online has learned.

The outcome of the talks will to a large extent decide the agenda of Negroponte's visit and the course of the US-led "war on terror" in the region.

The talks are based on previous Pakistan-inspired efforts to secure peace deals between the insurgents and the Western coalition in specific areas in Afghanistan with the longer-term goal of incorporating the Taliban into the political process both in Kabul and in provincial governments.

Read more: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IH21Df03.html

[Botany]

1. So peace talks w/ the people who backed bin Laden but a war in Iraq?

Who the hell is running this operation?

Time for the grown ups.

[Nickster]

7. It's going to be a real kick in the pants when they require a substantial cash payment

from us in order to be able to implement these peace plans.

[donsu]

2. I thought the bushmilhousegang didn't talk to terrorists??

since Negroponte is one of the 'diplomats', you know any deal done will put money into neo con pockets. (think oil/gas pipeline)

[endarkenment]

3. So the Pashtun regions will become autonomous?

That is the only deal that can be worked out. Right back to square one for poor Afghanistan. The Mayor of Kabul, in charge of collecting bribes from foreign governments and NGOs, the northern tribes with thier warlords and drug business, and the talibanized Pashtun region doing their thing. Pretty much where matters stood before the taliban took control of Kabul and big buildings fell down.

[rodeodance]

4. "incorporating the Taliban into the political process" ummm....Like Hamas

and Hezbollah

[Trajan]

5. Ah ..... So the circle keeps on turning .....

When the Bush White House first opened it's doors for shady business, one of the first orders was a strong push to engage the Taliban in discussions regarding the building of a pipeline through Afghanistan on behalf of UNOCAL, Enron, and countless other Texas Oil Toady friends of Dubya and Dick.

When the talks soured in mid 2001, the Taliban sat on it's hands while their acolyte Osama bin Laden killed nearly 3000 innocents in NYC a mere month later .....

And now here we are again: The Texan Oil Barons coddling the religious extremists of the Taliban ....

They say 'bird's of a feather flock together' ......

I wonder if Osama will join the Pioneer Club ?

[donsu]

6. kick

nt

[ohio2007]

8. Talk is good.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3ff_1185189461



better than making your point from behind a rifle.

talk is good