Senator Frist Seeks Place for Taliban in Afghanistan's Coalition Government
On tour of that war-torn nation, First asserted that there are too many Taliban fighters and they are too popular to be defeated. Frist said that it was time to bring people who call themselves Taliban into the coalition government. "You need to bring them into a more transparent type of government. And if that's accomplished, we'll be successful."
Frist was not alone in his sentiments. Republican Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) said that negotiating with the Taliban was "not out of the question" but that fighters who refused to join the political process must be defeated.
Democrats criticize this strategy because the Taliban-controlled government of Afghanistan not only supported Osama bin Ladin's attack on the US, but harbored him in its aftermath. They fear empowering the Taliban with the tools of government might worsen tensions with Afghanistan and lead to a repeat of what happened the last time the Taliban held sway over the populace. They also believe that the Iraq War has distracted from and worsened the situation in Afghanistan.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is quoted as saying, "Senator First now suggests that the best way forward in Afghanistan is to coddle the Taliban by welcoming Taliban members into a coalition government, as if 9/11 had never happened."
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) added that "the Republican leader in the Senate thinks Afghanistan should empower the Taliban terrorists who aided and abetted Osama bin Laden."
A spokeswoman for Senator Frist quickly sought to clarify his remarks, saying that the Senator meant only the Afghani tribesman should be brought into the coalition government before they were won over by the Taliban.
President Bush did not comment on whether fighting a war on two fronts has weakened our response in Afghanistan. Bush acknowledged that the situation in Afghanistan is getting worse, but predicted victory.
Published by Stephanie Dray
Stephanie Dray is an author of historical fiction. Her debut novel, LILY OF THE NILE, will hit bookstore shelves in January 2011. She's a storyteller, a game designer, and a cat trainer. In a previous life,... View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentFrist, of course, is running for President for some bizarre reason and is trying to position himself as an alternative to the shoot first ask no questions later approach of the Bush League. And the Democrats do themselves no favor by positioning themselves as exactly that to try to look tough. Will the Dems NEVER learn?