Afghan Jirga Ends With Reported Agreement On US Presence, Peace Talks: A grand assembly convened by Afghanistan's president has concluded in Kabul with general agreement on a government plan for a continued -- but not permanent -- U.S. military presence in Afghanistan as well as a strategy for peace. The gathering, known as a "loya jirga," brought together around 2,000 tribal elders and other community leaders to promote national consensus around President Hamid Karzai's preferred approach to both issues.
Delegates also gave their support to "moving forward with the peace process," in Karzai's words, in a reference to negotiations with the Taliban. But they included suggestions that the government should also place a priority on talks with neighboring Pakistan.
Afghan government ready to resume negotiations with Taliban: "From one side, if you look at it technically, it might be seen as a rush. If you look to the last 33 years in Afghanistan, it is not a rush. It is a genuine willingness," he said."For the past 33 years, you can't remember a single day when someone isn't killed or injured. We lost two generations in this war." The Taliban must establish a Diplomatic office in Qatar, now that sounds promising.
Weakened Pakistani Taliban limp into peace talks: Taliban commanders now say they have started initial talks with Islamabad, mediated by former army officials, in a move that could end years of "holy war" that saw 500 attacks killing more than 4,700 people, according to an AFP tally. The Government welcomes reports of ceasefire while the army denies involvement, who cares as long as we can have capitulation I mean peace at least until we can get the hell out of there.
As Pakistan eyes peace talks with the Taliban, anxiety builds: The movement to negotiate with the Pakistani Taliban comes at a time when, across the border in Afghanistan, peace talks with the Afghan Taliban are seen as Washington's only recourse after battling those insurgents for 10 years.On both sides of the border, the prospect of peace negotiations is fraught with risk and uncertainty. They've already had the first talks so that is a start, now lets have an end so we can get out.
Afghanistan could face economic collapse if international assistance is abruptly cut as foreign combat forces are withdrawn, the World Bank warned, stressing that the war-ravaged nation will need billions of dollars in aid for a decade or more.
The forecast by the World Bank, released late Tuesday, reflects broader concerns that Afghanistan will enter into a deep recession as the international community gradually reduces both the aid it provides the government and starts drawing down the 130,000 troops currently in the country. That troop withdrawal, which is slated to be completed by the end of 2014, has already begun with the transition of security responsibility from NATO to Afghan forces in seven areas earlier this year.
You know I have said from day one that if we are to not defeat but bring the Taliban to their knees to convince them to come to the table to talk peace we must eliminate the Haqqani's. We are closing in on them with recent captures and deaths of high ranking Haqqani clan members. If we have forces in place to eliminate all top Taliban interests as we have said now is the time to let that be known so we can discuss the Taliban coming back to power and our leaving.
As we have said numerous times the Taliban and the Haqqani's are indigenous to the area and we are not going to get rid of them. I do not understand why we are trying to unless staying there for decades is our real goal as has been reported. Secret US and Afghanistan Talks Could See Troops Stay for Decades
Russia, China and India of course are very concerned about a 'strategic partnership' in which Americans would remain after 2014. That is putting it mildly for me. It would be catastrophic.
If removing Al Qaeda was really our goal we have done that. It is time for us to go home and watch the country with our drones if we are concerned about negative future developments that could affect the US or western interests. Our troops have served magnificently. They have done what was asked of them. It is time to get them home where they are increasingly needed. They can deploy from their home base the US if needed.
The world is changing and on the fast track. We better respond to it and quickly or we are in serious trouble. That is another conversation but in this "small" instance we must get out and leave Afghanistan to its own demise. I suspect the corrupt Karzai will go down immediately but I do believe the Taliban has the strength and the connections in Pakistan and throughout Asia to take care of themselves and Afghanistan as long as we get the hell out.
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com
2 comments:
People have the misconception that Afghanistan is a nation. Nothing could be farther from the truth. They have been a collective of tribes for hundreds of years. Why would we expect to try and make a nation out of this why so many other have failed?
You may have noted Claire McChaskles' (sic) bill to stop funding for the many projects of rebuilding in Afghanistan. Yes we have spent hundreds of million of dollars to build hospitals and roads over there that they can not maintain because they don't have the resources to do so.
As you point out these are tribal leaders and not national or regional political leaders as we think of them today.
You're right Demeur and it blows me away to think we are going to make them a Democracy. They are frigging tribal and the Taliban is indigenous. We are the outsiders that must go!
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