Taliban talk about disarming

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA—In a significant move, Canadian and NATO officials in southern Afghanistan are involved in sensitive negotiations with Taliban fighters after discreet backroom signals from insurgents that they might be willing to lay down arms.

News of the surprise offer was quietly welcomed by allied military officials caught in the crosshairs of a swelling insurgency that has killed seven Canadian soldiers since July 22.

Disarmament talks are unfolding even as "hundreds" of fighters mass west of Kandahar in an ominous prelude to a potential battle.

The overture for potential peace came when a faction of Taliban insurgents in Panjwai region southwest of Kandahar signalled it wanted to talk to NATO's International Security Assistance Force or the United Nations about disarming.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155851411150&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724

[fooj]

1. Canadian and NATO...

aren't we there, too? Oh, that's right. We don't DO PEACE. Geez........

[CHIMO]

2. You Are

There.

NATO is led by the US. Besides Canada is just a pimp for US policy. So you are there in many, many forms.

[BushOut06]

3. BULLSHIT

I'm calling bullshit on this. Once again, this is nothing more than BushCo lies and maneuvering in order to prop up the moribund GOP for the midterm elections. This way they can go before the cameras, all smug and proud of themselves, and announce that the Taliban has agreed to disarm. They'll use this as proof that the make-believe "war on terror" is working.

Meanwhile, the Taliban will continue to regroup and rearm in the mountains. If there are any major skirmishes after this "disarming" is announced, chances are you won't hear about them.

[Igel]

4. The terms of the Lebanese ceasefire are apparently attractive.

The infidels stop shooting and withdraw in exchange for a piece of paper that wouldn't survive a heavy dew. The 'good guys' continue to arm and entrench, making sure their munitions are dry and nobody questions where they recruit and how they spread the word.

Mycelium likes heavy dew. Better crop of toadstools that way.

[CHIMO]

5. Didn't Last

Very long.

Taliban fighters confront Canadian troops

Kandahar — Fighting erupted again today in the notorious Panjwai district, as Canadian troops struggled to control a strategic belt of farmland in southern Afghanistan.

Residents of Kandahar watched fireworks marking the country's Independence Day, while grape farmers saw red tracers flying through the night, only 30 kilometres southwest of the city.

Initial reports of the clashes were somewhat contradictory, and could not be confirmed by the Canadian military. But local sources said Taliban fighters had previously overrun a compound owned by Haji Agha Lalai, a prominent local politician who was trying to broker amnesty deals for Taliban commanders. That same group of Taliban sent warnings to local farmers last night and today, telling them to stay away from the district government compound because of an impending attack.

The spate of violence came as Afghans were celebrating their victory against the British, which earned full independence for the country in 1919.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060819.wafghanistan0819/BNStory/International/home

Guess it was just a tea party.