Article

2007-10-30 Afghanistan

Key tribal leader on verge of deserting Taliban

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Posted by Steve White 2007-10-30 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 The best fishing is done with live bait. Nice of Salaam to volunteer to hang on the hook for us.
"no Nato troops have been committed" to his defense. Hear that, 'bunnies? He's just waiting there for your attention? (Pay no attention to those Green Berets up on the ridge, or the A-10's on hot standby nearby.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2007-10-30 07:09|| 2007-10-30 07:09|| Front Page Top

#2 "The Itzakzai tribe in particular have been key Taliban supporters, principally because they have felt excluded from both provincial power and the province's lucrative drugs trade since 2001. "

These then are a nobel tribe, even though they may have wished to be part, the fact that they were not, gives them a note in their file for special consideration. Now, if only their leadership could figure a way to capitalize on the special note attached to thier file....sometimes, being left out of something bad.....can be good. The art is in the how too of redeeming, that which chance dealt, its the whole lemons and lemonaide thing. Taliban support was the wrong course for these guys, so lets hope they figure the whole thing out.

Posted by Spiny Gl 2511 2007-10-30 09:40|| 2007-10-30 09:40|| Front Page Top

#3 "the Pirzai Alizai, that Mullah Salaam controls around [i]Musa Qala[/i].

Probably not coincidentally where the latest NATO/coalition offensive is taking place. Either they coordinated the negotiations and the offensive, or the success thus far of the offensive has provided the opportunity and incentive for the negotiation.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2007-10-30 12:46|| 2007-10-30 12:46|| Front Page Top

#4 Much of this is window dressing until the poppy-growing issue is taken care of. That is fueling the Taliban and introducing substantial distortion into Afghanistan's rebirth. Afghanistan is not going to be a viable country until the drug trade is cut to a trickle. This will piss a lot of heavies off in the short term, but that is a pain we are going to have to deal with if we want to succeed. (Oh yeah, we are also going to have to clean out the tribal areas in paki waki land, but deal with the issues on Afghan turf first.)

Posted by remoteman 2007-10-30 16:14|| 2007-10-30 16:14|| Front Page Top

#5 I am 100% for spraying round-up on the poppy fields. Put the big hurt on the taliban cash flow.

any of the 'poor farmers' who face starvations can be given food distributions if necessary.

Posted by Abu do you love 2007-10-30 16:40|| 2007-10-30 16:40|| Front Page Top

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