Porter adds, "The political negotiations between
Karzai and the Taliban may also hinge on the idea of an interim government that
would preside over a process of revising or rewriting the constitution,
according to Muzhdah."Sigh!
Several questions come to mind, but the
predominant one is on which side is the Afghan negotiating team? Indeed, on
which side is Karzai? It certainly appears as though he wants to turn back the
clock to Sept. 10, 2001. Neither appear to be siding with U.S. intentions, nor
the NATO soldiers who are fighting and dying in Afghanistan for essentially one
single cause, to bring democracy to this forlorn land. Perhaps that is what is
wrong with this entire picture. The cause for which these soldiers are dying may
be itself a forlorn hope.
But wait. There is something missing here.
Through no fault of his own, Porter's two magnificent articles did not mention
any reaction of the Taliban to Karzai's initiatives. Of course, Porter cannot
report that which did not happen. On the other hand the Taliban has told the
press there will be no negotiations until the "foreign invaders" have left
Afghanistan. So much for Karzai's grandiose negotiating plans. So much for
negotiation, period.
The long slog just got longer.
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