anotherlook

U.K.’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, David Wright Miliband, has said that while it is crucial to keep a strong military campaign against the insurgents in Afghanistan, it is imperative that North Ireland-style dialogue begin as well.

On the other hand, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who has been in day-to-day command of the Afghan insurgency for the past three years, is unequivocally against any type of dialogue. Asked by Newsweek would he support talks at some time, Baradar, in a written statement says:

“What would be the topic of the talks and what would be the result? Our basic problem with the Americans is that they have attacked our country. They are offering talks, hoping that the mujadhedin surrender before them. We see no benefit for the country and Islam in such kind of talks.” For the full written statement of Baradar go to:

Mullah Baradar: In His Own Words

Miliband has urged Nato members to support the Afghan government and help it to play a role in working for reconciliation once the fighting stopped but according to Baradar the fighting will not stop until the “intruders” are gone from their land.

This month has been the bloodiest month for the UK and Nato in Afghanistan since the invasion in 2001 and there is no sign that the violence will end soon. In spite of this, Miliband feels strongly that “We need to help the Afghan government to make more convincing efforts to fragment the insurgency.”

Backing these words from Miliband is Douglas Alexander, the International Development Secretary who recently visited Helmand. Alexander believes talks with moderate Taliban leaders would help bring a swifter end to the conflict.

However, Baradar believes the more deaths of the “intruders” the better, with the intent to “inflict maximum losses on the Americans.” Baradar also states “We shall continue our jihad till the expulsion of our enemy from our land.”

These are harsh and determined words coming from the main person in charge of the attacks in Afghanistan. Mullah Mohammed Omar, the original founder and leader of the Taliban, disappeared three years ago, passing the “leadership” down to Baradar.

While Omar continues to be a high-valued target for the United States, with a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head, he has not yet been “turned in” and the current opposition leader, who has instituted this spike in casualties, is Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a leader that may prove himself more dangerous than Omar ever was.

Baradar’s goal seems to be to keep the violence going, relying on guerrilla tactics when possible with the use of improvised explosive devices (road side bombs), ambushes with the mission in mind to keep the Taliban’s losses to a minimum while maximizing the “cost” to the enemy.

Is this “cost” a cost in life only? Development Secretary Alexander has pressed President Obama’s special representative for the Pakistan/Afghanistan area, Richard Holbrooke, to increase the amount of US financial support for the Afghan government. Citing the fact that Britain gives 85 per cent of the total amount allocated for reconstruction while the U.S. gives less than five per cent to the country’s central administration.

This war is “costing” in lives and money. It seems as though we are playing right into the hands of the Taliban and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

And that’s the way I see it!!!!

Mercure Queen’s Cheltenham

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