August 18, 2006
PERHAPS THEY CAN’T TAKE THE HEAT OF AN AFGHAN SUMMER
Taliban talk about disarming (Bruce Campion-Smith, Toronto Star, August 18th, 2006)
In a significant move, Canadian and NATO officials in southern Afghanistan are involved in sensitive negotiations with Taliban fighters after discreet backroom signals from insurgents that they might be willing to lay down arms.Posted by Peter Burnet at August 18, 2006 3:20 PMNews of the surprise offer was quietly welcomed by allied military officials caught in the crosshairs of a swelling insurgency that has killed seven Canadian soldiers since July 22.
Disarmament talks are unfolding even as "hundreds" of fighters mass west of Kandahar in an ominous prelude to a potential battle.
The overture for potential peace came when a faction of Taliban insurgents in Panjwai region southwest of Kandahar signalled it wanted to talk to NATO's International Security Assistance Force or the United Nations about disarming.
Lets give the rest of NATO props here. Dutch, Canadian, British, German, troophs have been taking it to the Taliban.
Posted by: JAB at August 18, 2006 3:52 PMThey're only surrendering because they know the Dem will control Congress after November, and with those highly competent Dems in charge they'd stand no chance. I'm sure that if Osama weren't dead, he'd be surrendering too.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at August 18, 2006 5:32 PMJAB:
Thanks on their behalf. It feels good after so much cowardice. I don't want to be small-minded, but to make sure credit goes where credit is due, I think it's just the British, Canadians and Dutch who are actually fighting. The Germans are there "reconstructing, but under non-fighting rules of engagement, I believe.
Posted by: Peter B at August 18, 2006 5:55 PMA "swelling insurgency" now wishes to surrender their arms? Do these people even read their own stories?
Posted by: Brandon at August 18, 2006 6:19 PM