[Imc] slanted NYT coverage of Taliban offer & US rejection

[R. Braun]

Interesting how speculation changes to fact in the space of 2 sentences:

  "We have not tried to create friction with America," Mullah Omar
  said. "We have had several talks with the present and past American
  governments and we are ready for more talks."

  "We appeal to the American government to exercise complete patience,"
  he said later, "and we want America to gather complete information and
  find the real culprits." It was unclear whether Mullah Omar's offer
  was genuine or merely a rhetorical stall for time.

  The text of his remarks was carried by the Reuters news agency.

  In Washington, the Bush administration brushed aside the Taliban
  leader's rhetorical offer. "The president's message to the Taliban is
  very simple," the White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said. "It's
  time for action, not negotiations."

Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/19/international/19CND-PAK.html

-Rosemary