Questions requiring answers

Warning: Following some links will open cans of worms you may not want to know about. You've been cautioned.

President Hamid Karzai today offered to meet personally with Taliban leader Mullah Omar for peace talks and give the militants a high position in a government ministry as a way to end the rising insurgency in Afghanistan.

1. Is this a re-branding? Is this the same Taliban that was defeated?

2. Uh, what about this?

As part of a public relations offensive that has received extensive media coverage, President Bush declared in an August 31 speech in Salt Lake City that "[w]e have made it clear to all nations that if you harbor terrorists, you are just as guilty as the terrorists, you are an enemy of the United States, and you will be held to account."

Does that mean Bush will cut off aid to Afghanistan?

3. Will the US talk with these terrorists?

4. Who provides the bottled water in these talks?

5. Does this mean its OK for the US to arm the Taliban?

6. Does this mean terrorism is a viable option in politics?

7. Am I the only one at a loss here?

I'm sorry, I do believe dialogue with any and all factions is productive and necessary, but offering government positions? Perhaps after a few talks and concessions it makes sense, but not right out of the box*.

* "out of the box" - US phrase meaning in the beginning or at the start.

Via BreakingNews.ie.