I remember back in 2006 when the NDP leader in Canada Jack Layton forwarded this same idea and was soundly thumped because of it.
Hey! Maclean's did a feature on it:
Quote:
And you all laughed - Beyond The Commons - Macleans.ca
Jack Layton, Sept. 1, 2006. “A comprehensive peace process has to bring all the combatants to the table.”
New York Times, today. Afghanistan’s president declared Thursday that reaching out to the Taliban’s leaders should be a centerpiece of efforts to end the eight-year-old war there, setting in motion a delicate diplomatic process that will carry great risks for both Afghanistan and the United States.
Ahem.
Andrew Coyne, Sept. 2, 2006. Leave aside what there is to negotiate with the Taliban. (Perhaps we’ll only stone some of the homosexuals to death? Every third school to be burnt to the ground?) Is it to be imagined that they would be content with a share of power, a portion of the territory? The most extreme exponents of an apocalyptically extremist sect, a movement absolutely devoted to the absolute necessity of absolute rule, in which the church-state regulates everyday life down to the most insignificant detail? That Taliban?
Christie Blatchford, Sept. 4, 2006. I wonder how he might actually swing it, were he the PM and that process was starting today. Would he chide the “combatants” (“Bad Taliban!”) even as he welcomed them to the peace talks? Would he pull out the chairs for their representatives? Would he pour the tea for those who have killed 23 Canadian soldiers this year?
Peter MacKay, Sept. 6, 2006. “Is it next going to be tea with Osama Bin Laden? This cannot happen.”
Rick Mercer, Sept. 6, 2006. Speaking of the short bus I see that Jack Layton has distinguished himself on the international front by coming up with a solution for the Afghanistan situation. Jack is calling for peace talks with the Taliban. About time the NDP get back to their more loony roots. For a while there they were coming off all semi-sensible.
Condoleeza Rice, Sept. 13, 2006. “These are people who whipped women in stadiums given to them by the international community to play soccer; who refused to let women learn to read. The Taliban made Afghanistan a failed state and a terrorist haven for al-Qaida so that they could launch the Sept. 11th attack. What’s to negotiate?”
|
I opposed extending the mission in 2009 after it became clear the only options were compromise and withdraw, or go all Carthage on their asses. The opportunity to win the "hearts and minds" has long since passed... The serious abuse and torture done by the ANA to detainees transferred by NATO forces being one of the more serious reasons.
So I'm happy our troops will be leaving very shortly, and that we can divert those resources to more worthwhile pursuits... Like say, attacking our own structural budget deficit...