Afghanistan Update

From the ADN Kronos International:

Brussels, 11 May (AKI) - The government of Afghanistan has said it will offer the Taliban amnesty and a chance for full integration back into Afghan society, but only if they are not involved in terrorism or linked to al-Qaeda. This was confirmed by the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, as he met with the media at the end of a meeting with the Atlantic Council of NATO in Brussels on Wednesday.

The head of Afghanistan's independent peace and reconciliation commission, Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, called for a widening of the amnesty two days ago, saying "I urge our brothers and sisters who continue to hide themselves, to take the hand of brotherhood and of unity."

In Brussels on Wednesday, Karzai also corrected news reports saying that Mullah Omar - believed to be the head of the Taliban and suspected to be linked to Osama bin Laden - would be eligible for the offer. "We have not spoken to Mullah Omar. We have offered integration only to the Taliban that is not part of al-Qaeda and not involved in terrorism. We are categorical about this," said Karzai.

However, a Taliban spokesman said Mullah Omar had rejected the amnesty offer anyway, and ordered his men to keep on fighting against US and Afghan government forces.

This is another outrreach effort of the part of the good guys to stop the insanity...some will look upon this as a sign of weakness, in a region of the world where weakness is something you dare not show. I don't expect this will bear much fruit, but you have to expect a move like this in order to placate those who don't quite get what the War on Terror is about...