Pentagon Begins To Draw Taliban/Al Qaeda Distinction
Sometimes you just don’t want to wait for the full Pentagon transcript. I just got an email summary from the Pentagon’s in-house press shop of spokesman
Jul 31, 2020152.6K Shares7.2M Views
Sometimes you just don’t want to wait for the full Pentagon transcript.
I just got an email summary from the Pentagon’s in-house press shop of spokesman Geoff Morrell’s briefing. In it, he issues what I think is the first official administration confirmation that the U.S. will support the emerging Karzai-Taliban peace talks. Check it out.
“„The United States will support the Afghan government in efforts to step up its reconciliation with the Taliban and other insurgents in Afghanistan, but not with Al Qaeda or those who support it, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters today.
“„“They are an independent, sovereign state,” Morrell said of the Afghans’ stated interest in escalating reconciliation efforts. “If that’s what they see is in their best interest, we fully support it, and we’ll do whatever we can to help facilitate it.”
So there we have it: the first distinction drawn by the Bush administration between the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It took more than seven years and nearly 5,000 U.S. troop deaths, but the administration has now entirely reversed President Bush’s 9/11 vowto “make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.”
Interestingly, Morrell specifically excluded Mullah Omar from any U.S.-supported deal:
But what if Hamid Karzai disagrees? And what if the price of getting Osama bin Laden or destroying the safe havens in Pakistan is to cut a deal with Omar?
Dexter Cooke
Reviewer
Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide.
He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations.
As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all.
Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles