[Peace-discuss] Obama plans war, Omar offers peace

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Or maybe Obama just has the more sophisticated media relations campaign, given
the disparity of force. --CGE]

	Fugitive Taliban Leader Denies Talks With Kabul
	Tuesday December 23rd, 2008 / 10h56

KABUL (AFP)--Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Tuesday refuted
reports of any talks between the Afghan government and the militants on ways to
put an end to the seven-year insurgency.
"The truth is that the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate (Taliban) has had no
negotiations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or anywhere else," said
an e-mailed Taliban statement signed with Omar's name.
"All of these reports are baseless and nothing but planned propaganda by certain
circles."
Afghan and international media have recently reported that talks were being held
between Afghan officials and Taliban representatives in Saudi Arabia under
Riyadh's mediation.
Omar said he had "not received any letter" from Afghan President Hamid Karzai or
from the Saudis about possible talks.
Karzai said last month he would go to "any length" to protect Omar in exchange
for peace, even if that meant defying Kabul's international partners.
Karzai has for years pushed for peace talks with the Taliban as a way out of a
deadly insurgency in which foreign militants, including those from al-Qaida, are
said to be playing a part.
However, he has always insisted his government would only consider talks with
"Afghan Taliban" who don't have ties with al-Qaida and agree to lay down their
weapons and accept the country's post-Taliban constitution.
The Taliban, driven from government in a U.S.-led invasion for sheltering
al-Qaida after the September 2001 attacks, have said they would only agree to
negotiations if the 70,000 foreign troops helping the government pull out.
Omar, who led the Taliban regime, has been in hiding since it was ousted. The
U.S. has offered up to $10 million for information leading to his capture.

C. G. Estabrook wrote:
> Taliban Leader Mullah Omar Urges Seven Point Plan for Peace Eye on Arab Media
>  New America Media, News Analysis Jalal Ghazi, Posted: Dec 19, 2008
> 
> [Editor's Note: While President-elect Barack Obama vows to pull back from 
> Iraq and focus military action on Afghanistan, Taliban leader Mullah Omar is 
> working hard to negotiate his way out of this situation. Jalal Ghazi is the 
> associate producer of the Peabody Award-winning show "Mosaic: World News from
>  the Middle East," and writer of the column Eye on Arab Media for New America
>  Media.]
> 
> Taliban leader Mullah Omar released a statement warning that the increase of 
> U.S. troops in Afghanistan will have a direct relation to the level of 
> violence there, and vowed to direct attacks at NATO forces. But, as an 
> alternative, he offered a "seven point plan" to resolve the conflict.
> 
> According to Press TV, a 24-hour news channel based in Tehran, Mullah Omar 
> delivered his plan through Saudi King Abdullah. The demands reflect a 
> softening in the Taliban's position, despite their increasing influence. ...