US eyes cut in troops in Afghanistan

[seemslikeadream]

Taliban to be offered amnesty
By Stephen Graham, Associated Press | December 6, 2004

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The United States could cut its forces in Afghanistan next summer if Taliban militants accept an amnesty to be drawn up by President Hamid Karzai and neighboring Pakistan, the senior US commander in Kabul said yesterday.

Any reduction in the 18,000-strong mainly American combat force in Afghanistan would relieve the US military, stretched thin by the much larger deployment in Iraq. Still, the force is unlikely to shrink before parliamentary elections slated for April.

''By next summer we'll have a much better sense if the security threat is diminished as a result of, say, a significant reconciliation with large numbers of Taliban," Lieutenant General David Barno said. ''That will change the security dynamics tremendously."

Afghan officials have urged supporters of the former ruling regime to abandon the fight or return from exile to help rebuild the country shattered by 25 years of war and a debilitating drought.

The Taliban, extreme Islamic fundamentalists who ruled Afghanistan and provided sanctuary for Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, were removed from power in a US-backed invasion after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, on the United States.

more
http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/12/06/us_eyes_cut_in_troops_in_afghanistan/

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. They're not the only ones eyeing cuts in US troops, if you catch my drift.

Yeah, I'm evil. You may spank me now.

[plasticsundance]

3. Bush Administration can't decide

which way is up. First they make these grave threats at the Taliban, then they offer them amnesty. It smells of desperation and SNAFU.

[seemslikeadream]

4. OK

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. Thank you ma'am

May I have another?

[seemslikeadream]

2. BBC: "US offers olive branch to Taleban"

Thanks bobthedrummer

If they disarm they won't be targeted.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4062191.stm

Sheesh, UnoCal and others offered them more for an oil pipeline when they were in Texas in 1997.
http://www.rememberjohn.com/talibantexas.html

The Afghan oil plans were highly touted.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/TAL111A.html

And I know I'll never forget that the US public relations person for the Taliban was former CIA Director Richard McGarrah Helms niece, Laili Helms.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0124/ridgeway.php

Also many Taliban and al Queda got away to save some ISI operatives.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/HER206A.html

Afghanistan is a DYN CORP narco-state today imo.

[Fleshdancer]

5. They've already started moving Special Forces out of the area

Besides, won't we need these soldiers in our invasion of Iran?

[July]

7. With us . . . against us . . . with us . . . uh, what was that, again? nt

[Moderator]

8. Duplicate topic--Please continue discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1046833

[LynnTheDem]

9. What Taliban??? bush said they were all gone.

But then, bush is an idiot lying asshole of a war criminal moron.