U.S. Defense Secretary: Swat-style Afghan truce acceptable

For the record, "Swat-style" truce refers to the recent capitulation of the Pakistani government when it gave in to the Taliban's demands to enforce sharia law -- which is, after all, the ultimate motivation of jihadis everywhere. More troubling is the fact that, according to this report, NATO hopes to begin relying on Iran to stabilize Afghanistan, not "immediately," of course, but "at a certain stage" -- you know, some time after Barack and Hillary have endeared the entire Muslim world to the West, and all these silly misunderstandings, suspicions, and jihadi blood-lust just go away.

Gates says political reconciliation has to be part of long-term solution

KRAKOW: Washington could accept a political agreement between the Afghan government and Taliban along the lines of the truce in Pakistan, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday.

Gates’ comments at the close of a NATO meeting contrasted with those of Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, who said he was worried that the peace deal was tantamount to surrender by Pakistan.

“We have said all along that ultimately some sort of political reconciliation has to be part of the long-term solution in Afghanistan,” Gates said.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said at the defence meeting that a broader regional approach was needed to help put down the insurgency in Afghanistan. The focus would be on more involvement from Pakistan, but could include Iran one day, he said.

He said the suggestion does not mean that NATO plans to enter into dialogue with Iran immediately but that Tehran could be involved “at a certain stage ... in a regional approach toward Afghanistan”.

Gates told reporters in Krakow, southern Poland, later that up to 20 nations have offered to boost their civilian or military commitments to Afghanistan and more are likely to do so soon.

The Paki's have lost all control of their country. The have now let the Taliban have their way in the northwest territories. The jihadis will soon have nukes. This is not good. Now we are talking about allowing the same thing in Afghanistan? Isn't this what we destroyed in Afghanistan? And people say that I am crazy for believing Obama is a muslim. His actions are proving me correct.