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Afghanistan
Hilary Clinton: Taliban Should Be Part of Afghanistan's 'Peaceful Future'
2011-10-20
"Our message is very clear: We are going to be fighting, we are going to be talking and we are going to be building... and they [militants] can either be helping or hindering but we are not going to stop."

She added: "Insurgents must renounce violence, abandon al-Qaeda and abide by the laws and constitution of Afghanistan, including its protections for women and minorities.
But the 'Insurgents' won't pay a price for 9/11.
"Reconciliation is possible - indeed, it represents the best hope for Afghanistan and the region."
Who decided to forgive the Taliban and when did it happen?
And if the Taliban end up with a reward for 9/11 (Western recognition, protection and danegeld aid) why should a nuclear Iran fear the consequences of Iranian sponsored terror attacks on the US?
Posted by:Ulang Omating7662

#20  That's probably good, since she could probably win with red meat like this:

"We came, we saw, he died"
Posted by: RandomJD   2011-10-20 23:15  

#19  Well, I can say Hillary isn't going for an insurgent Presidential Campaign at least.
Posted by: Charles   2011-10-20 19:41  

#18  I think Bush was right about Afghanistan - 'declare victory and get out'. And probably right about Iraq - an opportunity to kill bad guys, with real strategic value, and at least a chance at some kind of long-term success (though in 'realpolitik' terms it might have been better to leave Hussein in power and play him off against Dinnerjacket like we used to do.)
Posted by: Glenmore   2011-10-20 19:28  

#17  remoteman: she opposed Iraq and sent Paul Krugman columns to persuade me. (Oh yeah, that worked). So naturally, she was all for nation-building in Afghanistan - "the good war." I was skeptical, and I've come to agree with you 100%.

Posted by: RandomJD   2011-10-20 18:54  

#16  - my poor friend was a dual US-German citizen, and fluent in some obscure Bavarian dialect that sounded like Swiss German in a blender

*shudder*. The poor woman. Sounding like one came directly from the village can be a bit of a handicap when among educated Germans, until one has proved oneself.
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-10-20 18:11  

#15  The PITA German gal had a point if she was referring to Afghanistan. We are wasting blood and treasure there daily. Nothing is going to come of it. As soon as we leave, regardless of the money we pay, it is going to revert to type. Why continue the charade? I hold our military in high regard and it disgusts me to know that some of them are going to lose their lives for absolutely nothing. Bug out...tomorrow.
Posted by: remoteman   2011-10-20 16:17  

#14  Meh. Lawyers. We practice on each other, like cubs. If we can get each other to buy it, that's a keeper. Problem was, her boyfriend liked me better than her (I am female - he is not gay!) and I was oblivious to that dynamic.

Barbara, that's exactly what he told me, after he dumped her. :)
Posted by: RandomJD   2011-10-20 16:09  

#13  "She sounds like she was playing 'one-up-manship' with you"

She sounds like a PITA.
Posted by: Barbara   2011-10-20 15:57  

#12  that's not really what it was about She sounds like she was playing 'one-up-manship' with you & thought you would be so abashed by her fancy pronunciation, that you would stop thinking. Or at least, that she would 'win.'
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2011-10-20 15:54  

#11  TW - my poor friend was a dual US-German citizen, and fluent in some obscure Bavarian dialect that sounded like Swiss German in a blender. The Prussians who carefully schooled me in Hochdeutsch said I sound like a Turk, so, as I'm sure you understand, whether her pronunciation was "correct" or not would depend on who you ask.

AlanC - yes, she cited Kissinger as evidence that her position was unimpeachable. I showed her #9 in a book of fallacies, The Faulty Appeal to Authority, as evidence that it was. That's when she got kinda pissy, although I figured out later, that's not really what it was about.
Posted by: RandomJD   2011-10-20 15:40  

#10  Thanks for that fix Barbara ;^)

Um, I know that my memory ain't what it used to be, but wasn't Henry the K that main proponent of Realpolitik back in the day? Did your LL friend know who Henry was, back in the day?
Posted by: AlanC   2011-10-20 14:53  

#9  I, being retarded at foreign languages and ignorant of other cultures

For certain definitions of retarded and ignorant not in common use, RandomJD? ;-) Your poor friend -- did she have the correct R pronunciation? (We won,t even ask about the L, fewer being aware of the amusing possibilities there.)
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-10-20 14:49  

#8   Well, is there any real good way to 'solve' the core issue? Hilary's statement is just wishful thinking.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2011-10-20 14:17  

#7  Once upon a time, I was friends with a limousine liberal who called this "Realpolitik." All fancy with an accent and everything (re-AL-poli-TEEK) as if that settled the matter.

I, being retarded at foreign languages and ignorant of other cultures, questioned her until I got her to explain what she meant. (1) It's not our problem; (2) even if it was, there's no way to solve it; and (3) "oh whatever, who gives a f*ck about these people anyway."

So I guess that's Realpolitik.
Posted by: RandomJD   2011-10-20 14:14  

#6  "just goes to show that Hillary really doesn't have any principles complaints with radical terrorists"

FTFY, Alan. No charge.
Posted by: Barbara   2011-10-20 13:40  

#5  Only if the Devil paid for the privilege.
Posted by: Pappy   2011-10-20 13:31  

#4  If it can help her in some way she'd sup with the devil with a short spoon

But would she drink tea with the devil?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-10-20 10:59  

#3  Well, just goes to show that Hillary really doesn't have any princpled complaints with radical terrorists. If it can help her in some way she'd sup with the devil with a short spoon.
Posted by: AlanC   2011-10-20 10:49  

#2  They're already contributing a lot of fertilizer, in several ways.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2011-10-20 09:08  

#1  Gee, if only there was a Hillary Clinton when Rudolf Hess parachuted into Scotland.
Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165   2011-10-20 08:00  

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