online.wsj.com - 10/28/2008
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In a major policy shift, the U.S. is considering talks with elements of the Taliban in a bid to help reverse a downward spiral in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
washingtonpost.com - 10/28/2008
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washingtonpost.com —
As U.S. and European officials ponder what to
do about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, they are...
coming to a perhaps surprising conclusion: The simplest way to stabilize the country may be to negotiate a truce with the Taliban ...
(more)
Tea With the Taliban?
longwarjournal.org - 10/26/2008
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longwarjournal.org —
A sketch map of North and South Waziristan.
Map from The Khyber Gateway . Click to view....
US unmanned Predator aircraft have struck again inside Pakistan's tribal areas. The latest attack occurred in the Shakai region north of ...
(more)
US targets Taliban "facility" in South Waziristan
online.wsj.com - 10/28/2008
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U.S. Mulls Talks With Taliban in Bid to Quell Afghan Unrest (Petraeus supports)
Democratic Underground Latest Breaking News —
... to be led by the Afghan central government, but with the active participation of the U.S. The final White House recommendations, which could differ from the draft, are not expected until after next month's elections. The next administration wouldn't be compelled to implement them. But the support of Gen. Petraeus, the highly regarded incoming head of the U.S. Central Command, could help ensure that the policy is put in place regardless of who wins next month's elections. Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122515124350674269.html
Early Morning Swim: Special Chuck Norris Is A Washed Up Asshat Edition
Firedoglake —
... Bye, Toobz.
Does this get us to 60?
Palin on Stevens: Big Oil corrupts politics, vote Republican.
McCain in Ohio: the economy sucks, vote Republican.
Fundies attack Obama with direct mail.
Like the Germans defending Berlin: RNC buys ads in Montana.
Obama's closing argument.
Bushies go appeasement in Afghanistan.
Like the Germans defending Berlin: RNC to buy ads in Montana.
They'll be greeted as liberators in Seattle -- Condi to the Niners? ...
U.S. To 'Talk' to Taliban?
JammieWearingFool —
Frankly, I can't see much being accomplished talking with these monsters . Seriously, how can they be trusted in any way? Still, it appears there is high-level consideration here. The U.S. is actively considering talks with elements of the Taliban, the armed Islamist group that once ruled Afghanistan and sheltered al Qaeda, in a major policy shift that would have been unthinkable a few months ago . Senior White House and military officials believe that engaging some levels of the Taliban -- while excluding top leaders -- could help reverse a pronounced downward spiral in ...
By Their Fruits, Ye Shall Know Who's Right
Obsidian Wings —
... Big news today from Afghanistan. The WSJ reported that the US is now “actively considering” direct talks with the Taliban to negotiate stemming the violence. The article notes that this idea is supported by McCain’s second best friend in the whole wide world – David the General (Petraeus). And it makes sense that Petraeus would support it – after all, it’s the same logic underlying the Sunni outreach. ...
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When Obama Talks to the Taliban
mypetjawa.mu.nu 3/10/2009 — The imagined dialogue between Obama and the Taliban begins with the demands that all Westerners leave Afghanistan and Pakistan, that all Israelis be marched into the Mediterranean Sea and drowned, and that insults to Islam be made a capital crime...
Talking to the Taliban
corner.nationalreview.com 10/29/2008 — It's an idea that continues to gain currency. It could make sense as long as it's on the Anbar model (peeling off reconcilables, as we did, because they know they're not going to beat us) rather than the Basra model (giving into thugs, as the Brits ...
Senior Taliban commander reported killed in US strike
longwarjournal.org 10/27/2008 — A senior Taliban commander has been reported to have been killed in Sunday's airstrike in South Waziristan .
Haji Omar Khan, a senior Taliban leader in South Waziristan who strong ties to Mullah Omar, is said to have been killed in the strike that ...
Pakistani Taliban will not disarm, says spokesman
longwarjournal.org 10/17/2008 — Pakistan Taliban spokesman Mullah Omar has offered to conduct peace talks with the government just days after the military promised "decisive action" against the Taliban in their sanctuary in the Bajaur tribal agency. But Omar said the Taliban ...
Former UN chief mulls 'phenomenal' Obama presidency
afp.google.com 10/16/2008 — Former UN chief mulls 'phenomenal' Obama presidency 2 hours ago DUBLIN (AFP) A US presidential poll victory for Barack Obama would be "phenomenal," former UN chief Kofi Annan said Thursday, adding that whoever wins needs to learn the lessons of the ...
Taliban attack tribal meeting in Swat
longwarjournal.org 10/26/2008 — The Taliban continue to target the tribes that are attempting to organize in the Northwest Frontier Province and the lawless tribal areas. Taliban forces in Swat attacked a tribe that has organized against the extremists in the Matta region.
At ...
Taliban hijack NATO convoy in Pakistan
longwarjournal.org 11/10/2008 — A convoy carrying supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan was hijacked by the Taliban in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt. Thirteen containers of NATO supplies and at least one US Army Humvee were taken by the Taliban as the convoy traveled through the ...
The Taliban Song
mudvillegazette.com 11/15/2008 — I followed this issue, linked a few times, but didn't get the chance to weigh in (other than pointing out " nothing new ") on this earlier. But now I don't have to - as I kept on thinking "yup, that sounds about right" as I read this. (Much as I ...
US strikes kill Taliban commander, Afghan soldiers
longwarjournal.org 10/22/2008 —
Taliban and Anti-Government Element (AGE) incidents in the Southern Region, 2007 vs 2008.
US airstrikes in southern and southeastern Afghanistan met with both success and tragedy over the past 24 hours. A strike in Helmand ...
U.S. Mulls Widening Bailout to Insurers
online.wsj.com 10/25/2008 — WASHINGTON -- The Treasury Department is considering buying equity stakes in insurance companies, a sign of how the government's $700 billion rescue program could turn into a piggy bank for a range of beleaguered industries. The availability of U.S. ...
Big foreign policy agenda awaits next president —
Reuters: Politics 10/29/2008
NORFOLK, Virginia (Reuters) - The next U.S. president will face a daunting list of foreign policy challenges, from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the global financial crisis to the need to shore up the country's frayed international image.
...
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