Around the Web: Taliban, corruption, development
Ministers from more than 50 governments and representative from an array of international organizations will gather in London Thursday for a conference regarding Afghanistan. One of the issues to be discussed will be negotiations with the Taliban.
“The pros and cons of dealing with the Taliban will loom large at the conference in London this week, where Mr. Karzai is scheduled to present his plan for lower-level reintegration,” report Mark Landler and Helene Cooper of the New York Times.
“While Mullah Omar remains off limits for the United States, the administration’s openness to reconciling with other Taliban leaders has grown since last year, officials say, because of its recognition that the war is not going to be won purely on the battlefield.”
Your view: Negotiating with the Taliban
One of the focuses of the London Conference on Afghanistan on Thursday will be how to reach a peace with at least some Taliban fighters.
Is it possible? Reader Richard writes, "The only way to effectively negotiate with the Taliban to treat them the way they treat others...mercilessly."
But other readers say it's feasible: "I believe the Afghani Taliban are a rare group that can be negotiated with," says Melanie. "Both sides should sit down, have a healthy meal with good tea and coffee, show respect in speech and actions, and the results will be a miracle."
What do you think? Is negotiating with the Taliban a good idea? Can a peace ever be met with the Taliban? Can lower level Taliban leaders be brought into the political and social fabric of Afghanistan?
Kazakhstan says yes to NATO military equipment transit
LONDON, England - On the eve of a conference here Thursday on Afghanistan, NATO has signed an agreement with the foreign minister of Kazakhstan allowing transit through Kazakhstan of supplies for NATO and coalition forces. The agreement allows for supplies to start moving by air from Europe to Afghanistan "in the coming days," according to a statement from NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday in London that a separate July agreement between U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev allowing flights of U.S. military equipment through Russian airspace to Afghanistan, is set up but "running more slowly than we would have liked." FULL POST
Sixty nations gather to eye Taliban plan
Representatives from 60 nations will meet in London on Thursday for a conference on Afghanistan, looking at the future and that well-used phrase "the way ahead." The one-day conference will be co-hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Afghanistan President Karzai and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. (Karzai speaks to the media with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday, above).
After so many years of war, this conference will focus heavily on trying to reach a peace with at least some Taliban fighters.
Sen. Carl Levin, Democrat from Michigan and the Armed Services Committee chairman, just returned from Afghanistan. "[A] thing to watch is whether or not President Karzai and we can come up with a program for reintegration of those lower level Taliban which will chip away at the power of the Taliban and help to support the efforts of the Afghan security forces," he said.
At Thursday's summit, Karzai is expected to ask for $500 million for an initiative to offer jobs and homes to moderate Taliban fighters, helping them return to civilian life.
U.S. commanders acknowledge the need to bring at least some lower level Taliban leaders into the political and social fabric of Afghanistan. When asked if the Taliban could play a role in the future of Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top military commander, said, "I think any Afghans can play a role if they focus on the future, and not the past."
But reality remains harsh. U.S. military intelligence calculates the Taliban now have shadow governments in 33 of 34 provinces - raising questions about whether they see a need to come to the negotiating table.
