Posted on 08/11/2011 6:47:20 AM PDT by combat_boots
Secret exploratory peace talks between the United States and the Taliban leadership have broken down after details of the negotiations were leaked, Western diplomats have told The Daily Telegraph.
The breakdown in the talks at such an early stage has led to recriminations and claims that the details of the meetings and the identity of the Taliban's chief negotiator were deliberately leaked by 'paranoid' Afghan government figures.
Absolute confidentiality had been a key condition for the meetings which were held in Germany and Qatar earlier this year between Tayeb Agha, Taliban leader Mullah Omar's former private secretary, and senior officials from the US State Department and Central Intelligence Agency. The meetings were chaired by Michael Steiner, Germany's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The talks were described as a preliminary exercise aimed at agreeing a series of confidence-building measures to persuade the Taliban that the United States and its allies are serious about a negotiated settlement, sources close to the talks told The Daily Telegraph.
They said Taliban leaders were extremely nervous about entering talks because of widespread scepticism among their own commanders who believed the Americans were only seeking dialogue to divide their movement and fears that any discussions would damage their own credibility.
But after only three sessions details of two meetings in Germany and one in Qatar – held in March and April - were leaked to the Washington Post and Der Spiegel news magazine which named Tayeb Agha as the key Taliban negotiator.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Let's see.....
DoD...Rosa Brooks....Soros Sony...DoD Sony...DNC...0bama DoD...Seals DoD...0bama 0bama Administration...Taliban
What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
What ever happened to “US doesn’t negotiate with terrorists?”
Whose idea was it to have these so-called “peace talks”?
And....and ...how do you negotiate with liars????????????
Never understood that.
LOL!!
Even the taliban can’t trust the idiots in this administration
Maybe the picture of Obama saluting the Taliban commander was too much???
that evaporated when “we” elected one of their friendlies
Absolutely confidentiality? Where exactly is the value in that if the rest of the country doesn’t know what you’re negotiating for, or whether they want to comply with it?
Oh wait, I forgot, we’re talking about the Taliban, a thugracy dictatorship of oppression where you must do as you’re told. Somewhat like the Obamajaad administration would like to be able to pull off.
Which group of liars? The list on both sides is too long.
Silly, that was the evil Bush. What I want to know is how O screwed up an unconditional surrender?
Hmmmm? Perhaps this is how the Seal Team Rescue Mission was revealed to the Taliban? Just sayin’
Gunner
yeah, I remember this being reported a couple months ago.
So, now that we know who they are, hunt them down and kill them.
Then start new negotiations...
“SECRET” peace talks????
It’s not a secret when they have been reported on multiple times.
Jeez, we can’t even surrender right. Better outsource it to France.
Reminds me of the scene in Independence Day when the President is told by the alien: Peace, there can be no peace. When asked what they wanted, the alien responds for you to die.
Notice the article makes strong note that we had to share information about the talks with the Afghan gubermint. Then it goes on to say the info was leaked to the WaPo. Not saying that the leak came from the Afghan gubermint, mind you, but what other purpose did that paragraph serve than a ham-fisted attempt to deflect blame. Yeah, right, the Afghans leaked to the comPost.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.