I don't know what to make of this yet. And I searched for any other diaries on this, haven't seen it.
Sources: Taliban split with al Qaeda, seek peace
Questions abound:
- It seems true, in a sense. But are the Taliban really sincere with this? That, of course, remains a big question.
- They are using the Saudis to broker this peace. The Saudis are our allies, but are not exactly the paragons of moral virtue, as we all know.
- How impotent does the U.S. appear here? The Taliban - essentially reasserting itself politically in Afghanistan, ignoring the propped up U.S.-Afghani regime - breaks with al-Qaeda, and goes to the Saudis to broker peace? Meanwhile, the U.S., which doesn't believe in negotiation, is left standing with its dick in its hand .... and knowing Bush, he'll probably just saber-rattle and blow up whatever hope there may be.
- The Taliban can't beat the U.S. in Afghanistan - but the U.S. can't entirely beat the Taliban back either, through force alone. So it's the Taliban that decides to put out an olive branch first?
Amazing. Of course, the U.S. will have to recognize the Taliban to deal with it.