Barack Obama ready to pay Afghan fighters to ditch the Taliban

[Orwellian_Ghost]

The Obama administration is considering outbidding the Taliban to persuade Afghan villagers to lay down arms as it struggles to find a new approach to a war that is fast losing public and congressional support.

Despite five war councils in two weeks, President Barack Obama has so far failed to come up with a strategy for the conflict that may define his presidency. Fierce infighting continues between his own generals and advisers.

Obama has been handed three options by General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the US forces in Afghanistan. These range from 20,000 to 60,000 more troops, which would almost double the US military presence. McChrystal is said to favour an increase of 40,000 men, without which he warns the mission will fail.

The White House is uneasy about sending so many on top of an extra 21,000 already dispatched this year, fearing this could escalate the war which has already claimed the lives of 241 American soldiers this year.

...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6869503.ece

[Warpy]

1. Bribing them is cheaper in terms of lives

and probably in terms of money.

I'm for doing anything that will get them into the habit of supporting a more rational and peaceful life. That's the only way we'll ever get out of there.

[yurbud]

2. wasn't that what we did in Iraq?

[ingac70]

3. Yep, and it will work....

until the payments stop. We haven't stopped paying in Iraq yet.

[DURHAM D]

4. Will India and China chip in? nt

[TheCoxwain]

7. India wants to contribute troops to Afghanistan .. it can contribute troops in

extremely large numbers ( 10's if not 100's of thousands )...


but Pakistan will stop co-operating as it wants Afghanistan for strategic depth in its battle against India.


So, USA has so far sidelined India ( Which I think is a shame)

Letting India play a natural role will

a) reduce a huge amount of US burden
b) put Pakistan in its place ( it is the hotbed of terrorism)

[msongs]

8. lol Indian troops will then have Pakistan surrounded. that ought be fun nt

[madrchsod]

5. it`s not going to work---

we are not going to win "the war" no matter how many thousands we send there.

and here is why....up on huffington`s front page..from the new york times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/world/asia/11mullah.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all

[timeforpeace]

6. "...for the conflict that may define his presidency". Now that he's got the Nobel, that's true.