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| Afghanistan |
| Guttenberg calls for Taliban inclusion in Afghan govt. |
| 2009-12-28 |
| Germany's Defense Minister says war-torn Afghanistan can never taste democracy according to Western ideals, casting doubts on the mantra for the international presence there. In an interview with the mass-circulation Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg not only urged inclusion of moderate Taliban members in the Afghan government, but also conditioned any lasting peace in the country on that concession. Guttenberg said he had arrived at this strategy from studying Afghanistan's history and character. "Because we are in a country with such regional diversity...We can't just leave out an entire ethnic group like the Pashtuns if we want sustainable solutions for the future," he was quoted by the paper as saying. Certain conditions would need to be fulfilled, however, and it would be unacceptable for the Afghan government to ignore universal human rights. "We must ask ourselves who from the insurgents poses a serious threat to the international community and who is more concerned with the conditions in Afghanistan itself," he said. "This issue of human rights must also be taken into account, without ignoring the existing cultures and traditions in Afghanistan." His remarks in the past week seem to hint at a new German policy toward Afghanistan. He told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that he would support bids to engage in peace talks with non-terrorist Taliban members. Guttenberg has also vowed to fight pressure demanding his resignation over allegations that he was complicit in covering up the large civilian toll of September's German-ordered strike in northern Afghanistan ahead of election later that month. The September 4 attack in Afghanistan's Kunduz Province, killed or wounded more than 14 people, including at least 30 civilians. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 OSAMA + AYMAN + MULLAH OMAR, etal. = [salivating/drooling] HOMER SIMPSON = HMMMMMMM, CHICKEN .....CCCHHHIIIICCCKKKENNNN. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-12-28 21:37 |
| #7 TOPIX > US STRATEGY TO END AL QAEDA WAR USHERS IN 2010 FRAUGHT WITH PERILS. * SAME > TALIBAN INSURGENCY EXPANDING IN AGHANISTAN, CREATES GOVERNMENT-IN-WAITING; + NATO OFFICIAL: TALIBAN EXPANDING INFLUENCE ALL ACROSS AFGHANISTAN, + TIME RUNNING OUT FOR US SURGE STRATEGY TO PROVE MERITS. VIETNAM WAR = AFPAK > ultimately, the premier enemy method is NOT to militarily defeat the US on the battlefield, BUT TO FRUSTRATE + OUTLAST THEM [US political will = PCorrect Chickenhawks/ ChickenCritters in the Fed-Govt]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-12-28 21:34 |
| #6 Maybe the mistake was trying to set up a government rather than impose one. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-12-28 10:30 |
| #5 It was a bad mistake at the onset to try and salvage anything about Afghanistan. Afghanistan had a government when we threw the Talibs out. Remember that they were recognized in only three counties: Pak, Soddy Arabia, and the UAE. Their UN representation and such embassies as Afghanistan maintained were accredited to the Rabbani government. The mistake was in trying to set up a government that "included" the Pashtuns, who're incapable of governing themselves, much less their more civilized Dari, Uzbek, and Tadjik speaking betters. |
| Posted by: Fred 2009-12-28 10:28 |
| #4 I don't see a problem with the return of individual Talibs to their communities in a civilian capacity -- the Prodigal Son scenario. But let them run for election like everyone else, not be given power and influence just for the sake of their pretty faces. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-12-28 09:12 |
| #3 Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg not only urged inclusion of moderate Taliban members in the Afghan government,.. Wonder if the Minister would allow the revival of Neo-Nazis in the old country again? Moderate ones of course. /rhet question |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-12-28 08:34 |
| #2 It was a bad mistake at the onset to try and salvage anything about Afghanistan. It is like a soft rubber ox-cart with triangular wheels. No part works or is right for the job, nor can be repaired. The whole thing must be replaced. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-12-28 08:16 |
| #1 ION PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > PAKISTAN TALIBAN SAY [thousands = 000's] OF FIGHTERS GOING TO AFGHANISTAN, to help Afghan Taliban. US claims no significant movement of Fighters seen or detected at borders. * SAME > [Regional Trade]PLAN TO PAKISTAN TRANSIT CORRIDOR FOR CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-12-28 02:22 |