in the wrong era. Soundly refuting
liberals online since 2000. NOTE: That is NOT
me pictured at left. :)
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Audacity of Truth
"Diplomacy":
"People are saying what in the world is going on with North Carolina, we look like Mississippi." - NC Gov. Bev Perdue (D) on the passage of Amendment One, 5-11-12
Please tell me this is an oversight. The Taliban isn’t terrorist?
Otherwise, I really, really want to hear the reasons why the State Department left the Taliban off the list of terrorist groups:
A new State Department report designating terrorist organizations notably excludes one group: the Taliban. The U.S. has been fighting a war in Afghanistan for almost a decade aimed at “defeating the Taliban,” Taliban members repeatedly have threatened and killed American citizens and lawmakers have increased pressure on State to add the Taliban to the list.
Earlier this summer, a group of congressional Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton urging her to begin the process of categorizing the Taliban as a terrorist group. In June, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand of New York and Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez of New Jersey proposed legislation that would immediately add the Taliban to the terrorist list.
Yet the State Department’s report (due on April 30 but released last week), did not include the Taliban with groups such as al-Qaida, Hamas and the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA). To qualify, an organization must meet only three criteria: It must be foreign, it must engage in terrorist activity and its activity must threaten the security of the U.S. or its citizens.
Well, let’s see:
- The Taliban is largely a Pashtun group that straddles the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and, last time I checked, that’s not in the United States, so it’s “foreign.” Check.
- Does it engage in terrorist activity? Oh, gee, just search the last 7-8 years of news records for suicide bombings, beheadings, and mutilations – you’ll get more than you can shake a stick at. Or, if you want just one, how about the Times Square bombing attempt? Check.
- Does it threaten our security? Well, we invaded Afghanistan because the Taliban were sheltering al Qaeda, who slaughtered thousands of us on September 11th. And they’ve tried to get in on the act themselves. (See the aforementioned Times Square plot.) Ergo… Check.
So, I have to ask: Just what is it that makes the Taliban not a terrorist organization, O Wise Ones of Foggy Bottom? I’d almost prefer to believe you just missed this while dashing off to the evening’s cocktail party, rather than that you were so cynical as to leave it off as part of a negotiating strategy with our sworn enemies, so your bosses in the Administration could find a way out of a war they’ve never really supported. Nah, it couldn’t be that.
And how weird is it that I find myself on the same side as Chuck Schumer?
Via Mitrebox.
ADDENDUM: And yes, I know Bush didn’t put them there, either. It was questionable then, and it’s just plain dumb now, after years of experience with them.
(Crossposted at Public Secrets)
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It’s because Obama is courting the “moderate” Taliban, people! Geez, you can’t win friends and influence people when you are designtating them as terrorists!!
Up next: Al Qaeda is more of a social club, than a terrorist group.
Gosh, I feel safe!
How about us “white, former military, right-wing extremists” make the list again?
State Department? What State?
If the State Dept. labels the Taliban as “terrorists” it will make it more difficult for Obama to cut and run from Afganistan next year! Therefore, they cannot be “terrorists”!
I fully expect the Tea Party and the State of Arizona to be listed
My, how judgmental of you, ST, that you just can’t see the wonderful things the Taliban does under their imposed sharia law. Take that blinded and disfigured woman, for instance.
‘
Wonderful example of tolerance and acceptance of anything that goes against the grit of their supposed religion but in reality social system.
The Taliban: A misunderstood, rag-tag group of good ole boys who need world acceptance, understanding and love. Just some good ole boys . . .never meanin’ no harm . . . it’s just so good we have a ‘commander in chief’ who grasps this, can see beyond the tough exterior and embrace them and show them some love. Besides, he has that pesky family Muslim background. ..
I would say that the brutal murder of ten American Aid Workers last week should have been more than enough proof on its own.
Oh, now, we have to give Ms. Clinton a break, with planning Chelsea’s wedding and all! YOU know how hard that can be and have a full time job globetrotting the world for peace and harmony.
Now, the rest of the State Department must be taking a break for reality. After “condemning the Taliban” for the killing of ten aid workers for proselytizing they fail to include them on a terrorist list????? Excuse me while I get my tin foil hat….
By not placing the Taliban on the terrorist list means he can still send them “aid” which is already being done to Taliban controlled areas in Pakistan and will open the way for more “aid” to them when he reach’s an accommodation that will no doubt include even more “aid”, that will allow him to claim “victory” when he pulls out of Afghanistan, assuming they stay bought and it does not end up like Vietnam, with our troops being sniped as they board helicopters.