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| Afghanistan |
| Taliban say Guantanamo closure "positive step" |
| 2009-01-28 |
| The Taliban told U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday that his plan to close Guantanamo Bay prison camp was a "positive step" but peace was only possible if he withdraws U.S. forces from Afghanistan and Iraq. The Taliban, toppled in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, also told the new president that sending more troops to Afghanistan "and the use of force against the independent peoples of the world, has lost its effectiveness". A day after being sworn in last week, Obama ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where prisoners have been detained for years without charge, some subjected to interrogation that human rights groups say amounted to torture. Obama has ordered a full review of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, where he has pledged to boost troop levels and take the initiative against the growing Taliban insurgency. Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding in the remote, mountainous border region of Pakistan near Afghanistan. "Obama's move to close Guantanamo detention centre is a positive step for peace and stability in the region and the world...," the Taliban said in a message posted on Islamist websites, monitored by the U.S.-based terrorism monitor, the SITE Intelligence Group. The message said Obama had to reverse the policies of former President George W. Bush in Afghanistan and the Islamic world. "If Obama is right and, according to his words, wants to open a new page based on peaceful interaction built on mutual respect with the Islamic world, the first thing he has to do is to stop and annul all these procedures, which were created according to Bush's criminal policy," it said. "He must completely withdraw all his forces from the two occupied Islamic countries (Afghanistan and Iraq), and to stop defending Israel against Islamic interests in the Middle East and the entire world," the Taliban message said. Obama has named former U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke the first U.S. envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, a region Obama called "the central front" in the battle against terrorism. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #9 ION OBAMA, WORLD MIL FORUM > US TREASURY SECRETARY GEITHNER: OBAMA MAY SUSPEND US-CHINA CONTINUITY AND STRATEGIC DIALOGUE OVER CURRENCY MANIPULATIONS, TRADE FRICTIONS. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-01-28 21:30 |
| #8 COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG > NEFA FOUNDATION: TALIBAN [Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan] SAYS CLOSING THE GATES OF GUANTANAMO IS NOT ENOUGH. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-01-28 21:27 |
| #7 ummm, have they ever had peace and stability in that part of the world? do they even know what that means. because i don't think blowing up kids schools is the definition |
| Posted by: rabid whitetail 2009-01-28 14:20 |
| #6 the Taliban said in a message posted on Islamist websites, monitored by the U.S.-based terrorism monitor, the SITE Intelligence Group. Oh. I thought Reuters just hit the speed dial and got it from the horses mouth... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-01-28 13:03 |
| #5 "Obama's move to close Guantanamo detention centre is a positive step for peace and stability in the region and the world...," |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2009-01-28 13:01 |
| #4 amazing that we've come so far as to get approbation from Telli-band of thieves. |
| Posted by: hammerhead 2009-01-28 10:19 |
| #3 At least his approval rating is climbing somewhere. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-01-28 06:48 |
| #2 Perhaps we should tell the Taliban that we're gonna Daniel Pearl the inmates and see their reaction. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2009-01-28 01:01 |
| #1 Compare wid MARIANAS VARIETY > YUMIL: CNMI CAN TAKE GITMO DETAINEES. All Radical Islam would need is an EFFEC FOOTHOLD - when and iff this should ever occur, IMO the Govts of the CNMI + Guam + WEST/CENTPAC [ FSM] should prep for possible Activist + even Militant-Terror troubles e.g. DEMANDS FOR LEGAL SHARIA, NON-MUSLIM FAITHS TO MINIMIZE OR STOP WORSHIP SERVICES AND NORMAL PROSELYTYZING [Guam = anti-Catholicism], END OF WOMENS RIGHTS, ETC. + DEMANDS FOR SOVEREIGNTY OR EVEN FULL INDEPENDENCE FROM THE USA [ or CHINA?]??? Not right away, but over time ala CREEPING + ESPEC "LEGAL" SHARIA/ISLAMISM [1-1 1/2 generations after local establishment]??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-01-28 00:57 |