[Peace-discuss] What the Debate Missed on Afghanistan: Brits Say Talk to Taliban

[C. G. Estabrook]

	Top US general in Afghanistan backs 'political solution'
	Thu Oct 9, 10:22 AM

HERAT, Afghanistan (AFP) - The top US commander in Afghanistan said Thursday he 
backed a "political solution" to the country's dragging conflict with 
Taliban-led extremists.

It was up to the government to decide with whom it wanted to reconcile and how, 
General David McKiernan told AFP on the sidelines of a change-of-command 
ceremony at the main NATO force base in the western province of Herat.

"But I do believe that ultimately the solution here in this country will be a 
political solution and not a military one," the general said.

"So it would be my hope that people lay down their weapons and support the 
legitimate government of Afghanistan in the future."

The possibility of talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban has come 
under the spotlight this week after media reports that the two sides met in 
Saudi Arabia last month.

Afghan officials have insisted that no Taliban -- only former members of the 
movement -- were at the meeting.

President Hamid Karzai has offered to talk to Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad 
Omar who is on a US "most wanted" list, provided he accepts the post-Taliban set-up.

Taliban have said a condition for their involvement in talks would be the 
withdrawal of foreign troops.

McKiernan said the international troops in Afghanistan would only stay in the 
country as long as the government wanted them here and until the Afghan army and 
police were capable of taking charge of security.

"We don't want to be here in your country any longer than it takes to develop 
your own security capabilities," he said.

More US troops were meanwhile headed to western Afghanistan to train up the 
Afghan forces so they could tackle its "security challenges" which involved not 
only Taliban but also criminals and drugs traffickers, he said.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/081009/usa/afghanistan_unrest_nato_talks

Robert Naiman wrote:
> Petraeus said something quite reasonable.
> 
> From the JFP News yesterday: 'Gen. Petraeus said negotiations with
> some members of the Taliban could provide a way to reduce violence in
> sections of Afghanistan, Reuters reports. The British commander in
> Afghanistan had told the Sunday Times negotiations with the Taliban
> could bring needed progress. Asked about those remarks, Petraeus noted
> that Britain's long experience negotiating with adversaries helped
> reduce violence in Iraq. "They've sat down with thugs throughout their
> history, including us in our early days, I suspect," he said.'
> 
> I think the antiwar.com piece is wrong about there not being any sign
> of Taliban interest. It's true that their public proclamations in
> response to Karzai's appeals have been hostile. But there was the
> meeting in Saudi Arabia, which Karzai's brother attended according to
> some reports; Omar's statements that the Taliban is no longer alled
> with al Qaeda; Taliban observance of the UN Day of Peace; Taliban
> agreement not to attack humanitarian convoys if Taliban commanders are
> contacted in advance.
> 
> "Seek peace and pursue it."
> 
> On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 1:43 AM, C. G. Estabrook <galliher at illinois.edu> wrote:
>> [The US' most political general makes a move in the war in Washington on the
>> Middle East. --CGE]
>>
>>        Petraeus: US Should Talk With Talk With Taliban, Other Enemies
>>        Posted October 8, 2008
>>
>> Much has been made of the rumored peace talks between Afghanistan and the
>> Taliban, and while both the Taliban and the Afghan government have made
>> rather public denials that any such talks are ongoing, the United States has
>> been totally silent on the report. That is, until today.
>>
>> Today, General David Petraeus confirmed that Afghan President Hamid Karzai
>> has in fact asked Saudi Arabia to arrange peace talks between his government
>> and the Taliban. He also referenced "some local activities" to that end.
>>
>> And while the general said he didn't want to "get into the middle of
>> domestic politics," he appeared to endorse the idea, saying that he thought
>> the US should talk with its enemies. In the case of Afghanistan he said "the
>> key is making sure that all of that is done in complete coordination with
>> complete support of the Afghan government and with President Karzai."
>>
>> President Karzai seems to be in favor of reconciliation as well, having last
>> week made a public call to Taliban leader Mullah Omar to return to the
>> country and participate in upcoming presidential elections. Karzai promised
>> to be personally responsible for Omar's safety. The Taliban rejected the
>> call, saying Karzai was a "puppet" of the US and not in a position to
>> negotiate.
>>
>> So far the only sign that the Taliban is at all open to reconciliation is a
>> statement by Mullah Omar late last month which offered US and NATO forces a
>> "reasonable opportunity" to withdraw safely from the country. There has been
>> no apparent progress on the offer.
>>
>> http://news.antiwar.com/2008/10/08/petraeus-confirms-peace-overtures-to-taliban/
>>
>> Robert Naiman wrote:
>>> We sent this alert out today in response to the debate and the
>>> anniversary.
>>>
>>> -----------------
>>>
>>>
>>> October 7 marked the seventh anniversary of the U.S. invasion of
>>> Afghanistan.
>>>
>>> Our British allies are telling us that there is no military solution,
>>> that there must be a political solution, and that there should be
>>> talks with the Taliban. It would be a step forward for U.S. policy if
>>> the Presidential candidates would acknowledge this reality in the next
>>> Presidential debate on October 15.
>>>
>>> Can you join us in asking the Presidential candidates and debate
>>> moderator Bob Schieffer to acknowledge that the British say there must
>>> be a political solution, and that there should be talks with the
>>> Taliban?
>>>
>>> http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/afghanreality.html
>>>
>>> The top British military commander in Afghanistan says, "We're not
>>> going to win this war," and "If the Taliban were prepared to sit on
>>> the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement,
>>> then that's precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies
>>> like this." [1] The British government supported the commander's
>>> statements: a spokesman said the UK's ministry of defense "did not
>>> have a problem" with warning the UK public not to expect a "decisive
>>> military victory" and to prepare instead for a possible deal with the
>>> Taliban. [2]
>>>
>>> Meetings between Taliban representatives and Afghan government
>>> officials took place recently in Saudi Arabia. [3]
>>>
>>> Defense Secretary Gates made partially supportive remarks. Gates
>>> endorsed efforts to reach out to members of the Taliban or other
>>> militants in Afghanistan who may be considered reconcilable, much like
>>> what has happened in Iraq. [4]
>>>
>>> But what Gates didn't acknowledge was the need to bring in people at a
>>> higher level than individual fighters, which would likely involve
>>> political accommodation. In Iraq after 2006 the U.S. brought in
>>> leaders, and made accommodation for groups with political demands,
>>> such as integration into the Iraqi army.
>>>
>>> Some may wish to postpone confronting the uncomfortable reality of
>>> Afghanistan until after the election. But the danger is that the
>>> candidates will lock us into a policy of military escalation, which
>>> without a new political strategy, is almost certainly doomed to fail.
>>> That would mean more needless American and Afghan deaths before we
>>> accommodate reality. Why not begin accommodating reality now, and
>>> avoid the needless deaths?
>>>
>>> Please join us in asking the Presidential candidates and debate
>>> moderator Bob Schieffer to acknowledge reality in Afghanistan.
>>>
>>> http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/afghanreality.html
>>>
>>> Thanks for all you do in support of a Just Foreign Policy,
>>>
>>> Robert Naiman, Chelsea Mozen, and Sarah Burns,
>>> Just Foreign Policy
>>>
>>> Please support our work. We're funded by people like you. Our small
>>> staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. You can
>>> contribute here:
>>>
>>> http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate.html
>>>
>>> References:
>>> [1] "Talks with Taliban the only way forward in Afghanistan, says UK
>>> commander," Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian, October 6, 2008.
>>> [2] "Britain risks US rift in war against Taliban," Jimmy Burns and
>>> Daniel Dombey, Financial Times, October 6, 2008.
>>> [3] "Source: Saudi hosts Afghan peace talks with Taliban reps," Nic
>>> Robertson, CNN, October 5, 2008.
>>> [4] "Gates: Afghan militants key to country's future," Lolita C.
>>> Baldor, Associated Press, October 6, 2008.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
> 
> 
>