Place Your Bet: Will Taliban Payoff Be Al-Qaeda's Downfall?

An October 27, 2009 BBC report at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8329129.stm states, "The US military in Afghanistan is to be allowed to pay Taliban fighters who renounce violence against the government in Kabul...The move is included in a defence bill which President Obama is set to sign...Such payments have already been widely used by US commanders in Iraq, but it is the first time the system is being formally adopted in Afghanistan..."

Golly gee, Mr. President, did paying the opposing warriors in Iraq to switch sides pay off? I certainly hope so, because last time I heard, most of the Taliban are fighting because of the US occupation of their country, and not in support of Al-Qaeda. 

Former Marine turned diplomat Michael Hoh--who was stationed in Afghanistan--resigned for this very reason stating, "I have lost understanding of and confidence in the strategic purposes of the United States' presence in Afghanistan," Hoh wrote in his resignation letter, dated Sept. 10 but published early Tuesday. "I have doubts and reservations about our current strategy and planned future strategy, but my resignation is based not upon how we are pursuing this war, but why and to what end." Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/10/27/2009-10-27_michael_hoh_a_state_department_official_resigns_over_white_houses_handling_of_af.html#ixzz0VCTkaqTK

I know if the US was invaded by another country on the premise of finding a master criminal (who should have been hunted down and tried by now), and stayed long beyond their worn-out welcome, killing hundreds of civilians in the course of finding said criminal and his cohorts, I would certainly take up arms, legs, and a finger or ten to fight those invaders! 

Afghanistan and the dwellers of the Hindu Kush have a fierce reputation. And, although I highly admire and love our armed forces, we all know what the unconventional fighting style of the Afghanis did to the English, and then the Russians.

Stay tuned to see what decision our fearless leader makes regarding sending the requested 40,000 additional troops to quell the Taliban...