Negotiate what, exactly?

"Negotiate with the Taliban," demands Eric Margolis:

Anti-Western forces are quickly gaining ground in Afghanistan. What Washington and Ottawa keep claiming is an "anti-terrorist operation" against a handful of al-Qaida fighters and Taliban has, in fact, turned into fast-growing Afghan national resistance to foreign occupation. Were it not for the U.S. Air Force's might and ubiquitous presence, U.S., Canadian, and British troops would soon be driven from southern Afghanistan.

[...]

Negotiating a deal with Taliban and other Afghan resistance forces is the only way out of this morass, not expanding a war that is already lost.

I don't think it's fair when people call Jack Layton "Taliban Jack." I have no problem with "Taliban Eric," though, to describe a writer who sounds downright giddy about one of the most repressive governments in recent history being restored to power.

Damian P.

Posted by damian at March 4, 2007 03:27 PM