BBC (Thursday): Rumsfeld rules out comeback for Taleban

[Jack Rabbit]

From the BBC Online
Dated Thursday December 4 14:41 GMT (6:41 am PST)

US rules out comeback for Taleban

The US defence secretary has said the ousted Taleban will never be allowed to return to power in Afghanistan, as he pledged continuing American support.
Donald Rumsfeld was speaking after talks with warlords in the north and President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.
"Those who have been defeated... would like to come back... but they will not have that opportunity," he said.
Mr Rumsfeld added that the expansion of Nato-led peacekeepers would not affect America's troop commitment.

Read more.

No one, except rightwing Islamists, wants to see the Taliban return to power in Afghanistan. To that extent, it is unnecessary for Mr. Rumsfeld to restate the US position. However, the Bushies' blundering in Afghanistan has opened a door of opportunity for the Taliban that make Rumsfeld's words ring hollow.

[Frances]

1. Just having the question brought up

says that the U.S. has not accomplished its goal in Afghanistan. By the way, I opposed the Taliban from the beginning. If I had been in a position of influence, I would have done nation building in Afghanistan before attacking Iraq.

[tabasco]

7. I agree 100%

We let the real bad guys get away as we trusted warlords and the Pakistanis to get the job done for us. Only one US division was committed to Afghanistan, along with the small numbers of Special Forces to point the warlords in the right direction. This was insufficient military power for such a large mission. Iraq's oil is more important to the Bush administration than fighting the real terrorists.

[Tempest]

2. What's Strangefeld going to do, wave his magic fairy wand?

The administration is getting desperate.

Afghanistan is out of control and Iraq is slipping through their fingers.

[Gman]

3. Does anyone pay attention to what Rumsfeld has to say anymore

except to point out his asurdities?

[Skidmore]

4. Even after they took a potshot at him? Some people

don't read the tea leaves very well.

[GCP]

11. You mean that rocket attack against the US embassy!?

LOL, foot-in-mouth syndrome strikes again.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

14. Funny thing about that...

...it may have been our own people using one of their rockets.

I'm sensing that our guys are starting to reach the "frag-point".

[Fleshdancer]

5. Well gee, if rummy said it it must be true

He's doing such a bang up job so far, why wouldn't we believe him? :eyes:

My favorite part: "Donald Rumsfeld was speaking after talks with warlords in the north and President Hamid Karzai in Kabul." Warlords. yep, nothing makes me feel more confident than knowing Rumsfield is out there talking it up with the warlords.

By the way, am I the only person here who thinks Hamid Karzai looks like a Hollywood creation? I don't know his background other than his British accent shows he was educated in Britian.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. But - BUT . . . . Rummy is so succesful with "Warlords" !!

. .

[Minstrel Boy]

8. I think, like the turkey, Hamid Karzai is 100% polypropylene

Keep him away from open flames.

[Kelvin Mace]

9. Riiiight!

The US defence secretary has said the ousted Taleban will never be allowed to return to power in Afghanistan, as he pledged continuing American support.

O-kay, but has anyone told the Taliban?

David Allen
www.thoughtcrimes.org
Distrusting the Government Since 1984

[Barrett808]

10. Whatever these mobsters say, I assume the opposite is closer to the truth

So by that rule, the Taliban will be back in the saddle pretty soon.

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. the Taliban will be back in the saddle pretty soon" - were they ever OUT ?

. . I think the Taleban and any other terorist group sat back for a bit and watched the World's most powerful Nation(?) make an ass out of itself !\


HOW THE USA TREATS THE WORLD !!

[supernova]

12. Interesting Rummy thinks he can afford

to be so cocky.

:eyes:

It's not like he can't quite keep control of the situation or anything.

[yellowcanine]

15. Well, I certainly am glad that we don't have to worry our little heads

about that, now that Rummy has spoken.

[Coventina]

16. *Whew* Yeah, I feel better now!

Rummy is on the case!
He won't the the bad guys come back.

:eyes:

[Rex]

17. This must be one of Rummy's "unknown unknowns"

He needs to lay off the crackpipe!