Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mullah Omar May Go Free
newsmax ^ | Nov. 25, 2001 | ap

Posted on 11/25/2001 10:12:10 AM PST by classygreeneyedblonde

If Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar is captured as a result of a U.S. victory in the Afghan war, there's a chance he will be set free, America's top diplomat in the region admitted Sunday

He is one of those cases that will have to be looked at individually," said U.S. Ambassasdor Kenton Keith, spokesman for the Allied Coalition, in an interview with "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert

When Russert asked point blank whether the U.S. might deliberately "not apprehend Omar - someone who has in fact allowed Osama bin Laden to stay in Afghanistan all these years," Keith said

As I say, (there's) a case-by-case basis for examining and questioning these people. I'm sure that Omar is one of those who will be investigated thoroughly and I expect that he will be brought to justice

When asked to clarify what he meant by "brought to justice," Keith said, "It depends. It's an Afghan - Afghan situation. In the end this battle with the Taliban is an internal Afghan matter. Afghans have to solve it. They are looking at it on a case-by-case basis, we are told

Ambassador Keith also declined to speculate on whether Omar was a likely candidate for trial by a U.S. military tribunal as part of a plan announced by President Bush two weeks ago

It's an option for the president (but) he has not said he is going to use it," he told Russert.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last
To: Mulder
From: Testimony of Ambassador Kenton Keith

Prior to taking up my current positions, I was a career Foreign Service Officer with the United States Information Agency. Much of my career was spent in the Middle East, including my appointment by President Bush in 1992 to be U.S. Ambassador to Qatar. Following that assignment, I headed USIA's area office that supervised all the agency's operations in the Near East and South Asia.

21 posted on 11/25/2001 10:42:26 AM PST by Doe Eyes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: classygreeneyedblonde
Relax. Just like all the Taliban Afghan's are freed (and some join the NA), Omar is an Afghan. It is in our interest that Afghanistan take care of him, not us. Afghanistan has a number of options: 1) Try him and execute him according to Islamic Law. 2) extradite him to us 3) exile him to another country 4) set him free.

I think #1 will be the overwhelming favorite. They need local political support to make this happen though. I think #2 is very unpalatable to Afghan's. #4 is also not very probable because of the trouble he could create. #3 is probably the second most likely scenario.

This is all assuming they take him alive. I suspect that he won't be.

23 posted on 11/25/2001 10:44:59 AM PST by tbeatty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: horsewhispersc
You just lost a vote for sure now Mr. Bush!..

EVERYONE CALM DOWN, PLEASE

Note carefully what the guy actually said, versus the "spin" that THE REPORTER decided to put on it.

All he actually said was, "we'll look at each case individually." Period. That's diplomat-speak for "no comment, we don't want to tip our hand just yet".

It's only the reporter who decided to spin that into "so there's a chance we might decide to let him go, since you didn't flat-out say that he'd be hanged."

So, you may wonder, why would Keith not simply say, "he's a dead man" when asked? Because that only drives Omar and his follows further underground. Instead, speak more softly and let them think they might be treated as simple POWs, who could go home after the war's over, and perhaps they'll surrender, or at least relax and let down their guard a bit.

Relax, people... Keith did *NOT* say that we were going to let Omar off the hook. He just said that we'd "look at his case individually". Indeed we will...

24 posted on 11/25/2001 10:45:05 AM PST by Dan Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: classygreeneyedblonde
While insane on the surface, don't discount the possibility that this is one of those selective pieces of DIS-information that W and Rumsfeld mentioned earlier. "Sure, Omar, come on out. We won't hurt you! (Got him in your sights, Corporal? Fire when ready...)"
25 posted on 11/25/2001 10:45:12 AM PST by Eccl 10:2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: classygreeneyedblonde
This Kenton Keith guy sounds like a bath house boy. Only concerned about his next date with his boyfriend. That's why we don't need a bunch of pansys running this gov't. They say stupid things and care more of their sick perverted desires than the good of the nation.
26 posted on 11/25/2001 10:46:21 AM PST by Dengar01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: TheOtherOne; Tacis
Please tell me how Omar and OBL are related? It was Atef's daughter that OBL's son married, not Omar's.

True about OBL's son. However, I've also read (don't have the source at the moment, sorry) that OBL married one of Mullah Omar's daughters.

I suppose it's possible that some reporter confused the two, but I've seen this several places.

Tricky thing, polygamy.


27 posted on 11/25/2001 10:52:04 AM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Bernard
LOL!!! --- i will try not to sneeze when i am near him
28 posted on 11/25/2001 10:52:11 AM PST by mlocher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Doe Eyes
Much of my career was spent in the Middle East, including my appointment by President Bush in 1992 to be U.S. Ambassador to Qatar

Undoubtedly another brilliant (sacrasm) appointment by poppy Bush. Bill Reilly, David Souter, and now this guy.

29 posted on 11/25/2001 10:57:27 AM PST by Mulder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Dan Day
Bottom Line is, We Will All Have To Sit Back Wait and See, will we not? ; )
30 posted on 11/25/2001 11:03:11 AM PST by horsewhispersc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: classygreeneyedblonde
"When asked to clarify what he meant by "brought to justice," Keith said, "It depends. It's an Afghan - Afghan situation."

Afghan-Afghan Situation??!!!!

"In the end this battle with the Taliban is an internal Afghan matter. Afghans have to solve it. They are looking at it on a case-by-case basis, we are told "

Afghan internal matter??!!!!

31 posted on 11/25/2001 11:09:44 AM PST by Native American Female Vet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: classygreeneyedblonde
Spectre Gunship---AC-130...Operation Ventilated Turban should cure the problem of what to do with Mullah Omar.
32 posted on 11/25/2001 11:13:57 AM PST by HP8753
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: innocentbystander
Not to worry, this is just a state department lackey talking out of turn.

Actually, he might be telling the truth. I'm sure the NA will examine his case, on a "case by case" basis, and then execute him.

Ya' gotta' know, the fix is in...

33 posted on 11/25/2001 11:23:40 AM PST by unamused
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: HP8753
Anyone see Jack Nickolson in the "Shining" when he sticks his head through the partially open door and states .... Omy ain't goin' nowhere. Doublespeak - pure and simple. In your mind replace Jack's mug with a Green Beret peeking in the flap of the Ohm's main tent.
34 posted on 11/25/2001 11:31:43 AM PST by schaketo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

Comment #35 Removed by Moderator

To: classygreeneyedblonde; All
Hay, some prettty good replies here, I think this is prettty much worked out now...

What bothers me is all of those Talibaners "defecting" to the NA...now how do they know if they are serious or are just saying "I bin Fighting (bin Fighting...a distant relative of bin (heavy) Laden) against you for years, but now that you're gonna kill me , can I be on your side?"

36 posted on 11/25/2001 11:44:40 AM PST by Syncro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: classygreeneyedblonde
If he is allowed to go free there will be the biggest outcry of injustice in this country never heard before. . .
I agree:


But I think that Team Bush will take care of business! ! !

37 posted on 11/25/2001 11:56:53 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: classygreeneyedblonde
PS: Thanks for the post, you ClassyGreenEyedBlonde, you! ;-)
38 posted on 11/25/2001 11:59:11 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: classygreeneyedblonde

We can't show any mercy on them

39 posted on 11/25/2001 12:07:56 PM PST by spycatcher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Native American Female Vet
Afghan-Afghan Situation??!!!!

Precisely. I may be mistaken, but aren't most of the Taliban Pakistanis?

I actually don't believe Omar will get out of this alive.
Besides, Santa promised ME his glass eye for Christmas,
and we all know that Santa doesn't lie. ;o)

40 posted on 11/25/2001 12:31:08 PM PST by EggsAckley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson