[Peace-discuss] Realist v. Neocon on AfPak

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Gates sounds less accommodating than Petraeus, his ostensible underling.]

	FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008
	02:00 MECCA TIME, 23:00 GMT	
	US mulls Taliban reconciliation

Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, has said his country would "ultimately" 
be prepared to reconcile with the Taliban group to end the conflict in Afghanistan.

Gates on Thursday, however, ruled out any possible talks between the US and 
al-Qaeda fighters in the country.

And, speaking after the first day of Nato meetings in Budapest about the war in 
Afghanistan, Gates said any settlement with the Taliban would be on the Afghan 
government's terms and would require the group to subject itself to Kabul's rule...

<http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/10/2008109213743699138.html>