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Hillarysworld -> International -> US, Karzai Clash on Unconditional Talks with Taliban (IPS News 2/02/10)
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TOPIC: US, Karzai Clash on Unconditional Talks with Taliban (IPS News 2/02/10)
Jen the Michigander


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US, Karzai Clash on Unconditional Talks with Taliban (IPS News 2/02/10)
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http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50196

On the surface, it would seem unlikely that Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who presides over a politically feeble government and is highly dependent on the U.S. military presence and economic assistance, would defy the United States on the issue of peace negotiations with the leadership of the Taliban insurgency.

But a long-simmering conflict between Karzai and key officials of the Barack Obama administration over that issue came to a head at last week's London Conference, when the Afghan president refused to heed U.S. signals to back off his proposal to invite the Taliban leaders to participate in a nationwide peace conference.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded by pressing Karzai to demand far-reaching concessions from the Taliban in advance of the meeting. Clinton's conditions on Taliban participation included renunciation of al Qaeda and of violence and acceptance of the Afghan constitution, conditions that would make it impossible for leaders of the insurgency to agree if they are interpreted literally.

On Nov. 23, Clinton said the United States had "urged caution and real standards that are expected to be met by anyone who is engaged in these conversations, so that whatever process there is can actually further the stability and peace of Afghanistan, not undermine it."

Instead, Karzai publicly asked the United States to join in talks with the Taliban. Following the issuance of a statement by Mullah Omar on Nov. 25 that implied the Taliban would negotiate if they did not have to give up their demand for withdrawal of foreign troops, Karzai said there was an "urgent need" for negotiations with the Taliban.

In the face of what he knew was U.S. hostility to the idea, Karzai announced on Dec. 3, "Personally, I would definitely talk to Mullah Omar. Whatever it takes to bring peace to Afghanistan I, as Afghan president, will do it."

But he added, "I am also aware that it cannot be done by me alone without the backing of the international community." That is the phrase Karzai uses to refer to the United States and its NATO allies.

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Alex


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Hmmm, meeting without preconditions.  Who does THAT remind you of? 



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Sanders


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Yep! That's what happens when a candidate for C-i-C weakens his position by pre-declaring such a poor non-strategy during campaign days. He gets handed his trump card.

I am so glad Hillary is the SOS. At least she had a different position and can assert to some extent in this.

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Hillarysmygirl16


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I am sure that Hillary will do all she can to advoid talking to the Taliban.

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