This is the same Taliban that the Obama administration has wanted to have peace talks with for most of his presidency
(Yahoo News) President Barack Obama warmly welcomed the announcement on Tuesday of fresh reconciliation talks between Afghanistan’s government and the Taliban, as well as plans to launch a new round of direct negotiations between the insurgent force and the United States.
“This is an important first step toward reconciliation,” Obama told reporters after a meeting with French President François Hollande on the sidelines of the G-8 summit of rich countries. “It’s a very early step—we anticipate there will be a lot of bumps in the road—but the fact that the parties have an opportunity to talk and discuss Afghanistan’s future I think is very important.”
These types of bumps in the road?
A US official said insurgents attacked Bagram Air Base with “indirect fire”, suggesting the soldiers were killed by mortars or rockets.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. “Last night two big rockets were launched at Bagram (air base) which hit the target. Four soldiers are dead and six others are wounded. The rockets caused a major fire,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
The NY Times is more concerned with Obama’s legacy than the actual deaths of Americans, but they do point out that Karzai is not happy with these negotiations
But then came the surprise announcement Wednesday that Afghan officials would cease cooperation with the United States in discussing the presence of American troops after most foreign forces withdraw next year. The Afghan officials were said to be angry that the new Taliban office in Qatar to host the peace talks would be called the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan†with the Taliban flag flying there, which Afghan officials felt would grant the insurgents too much legitimacy.
“In view of the contradiction between acts and the statements made by the United States of America in regard to the peace process, the Afghan government suspended the negotiations, currently under way in Kabul between Afghan and U.S. delegations, on the bilateral security agreement,†said a statement by the office of President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.
Even someone like Karzai, not the most trustworthy of leaders (but, then, consider what the US has as a “leader”) understands that the Taliban is a dangerous hardline Islamist group, but, Obama would prefer to negotiate with the terrorist group. Even while they kill US soldiers.
