Surrender that hope and there’s a way forward. The idea that there are some “moderate” Taliban who are just gagging to become part of a liberal democracy is so laughable that you could cry. Afghanistan looks very much like being the graveyard of Obama’s presidency.

news from shrub’s stalwart ally (AP):
“A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a 75-year-old woman to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment… for having two unrelated men in her house”

Hopefully, we’re going to be leaving the Afghans with something better than this, Taliban alliance or not.

Karzai is a Pushtun as are a plurality of most government officials. No other group has the political power of the Pashtun in Afghanistan. The problem is that regions will remain unrepresented “on the ground” as long as there is the idea that a Pashtun-dominated government ( a la the Taliban) is the motive of the leadership.

If negotiations can occur with individuals who want regional autonomy and greater local participation at the Federal level then perhaps there can be a break in the logjam and a reduction of attacks against the Central government. At the same time that means that these subregions will continue to institute a fundamentalist version of Islamic law on their population, including women and those that are viewed as apostates.

eCAHNomics March 9th, 2009 at 10:21 am
This categorization on the basis of whether the groups are militant or not is ridiculous.

It would also appear to be non-existant. Are you sure you’re posting in the right comments thread ?

Well, we are talking about “war”, after all.

It ain’t gonna stop until it is no longer profitable (for the few).

This is not about finding common human cause in search of solutions, it is about appearances of ‘victory’ or ‘pacification’(for popular ‘consumption’) and, somehow, finding an ‘opportunity’ for the Political Cla$$ to ‘justify’ the ‘mindless and stooopid’ so that they can do ‘it’ again, sometime. (Sooner rather than later, if history is any guide. Of course, America is exceptional and history has nothing whatever to teach her.)

America can ill afford such utter nonsense, on any level, but we are truly well-endowed in the “m & s” department, which trumps all other possible considerations.

Remember, eCAHN, “you are either with us or against us”, there is no other way.

You are suggesting nuance and thoughtful consideration.

Neither appears, yet, to be in vogue, especially as it has never been clear what our ‘purpose’ is, aside from ‘encouraging’ what we term ‘free enterprise’ and having our way.

There is probably no more fitting place for America to have its come-up-ance than Afghanistan (with a little help from Pakistan).

Ambooshchen & Co. already tried it.

nonstarter for them. go figure.

did i miss somethin?