Also, could you imagine telling Americans in 2002 – even liberal Americans – that we would be forced by a lack of will to negotiate with, accept a promise of peace from, and recognize the legitimacy of the Taliban?

HitNRun on December 25, 2012 at 9:30 PM

Sadly, yes. I did imagine exactly that, and in September of 2001. It just took us a few years longer than I feared it would.

Cylor on December 26, 2012 at 12:29 AM

What I figured on was a loud “Mission Accomplished” and a quiet retreat when it became obvious that trying to bring American democracy to Bronze-Age savages wasn’t going to work. But I didn’t count on the election of a ‘president’ so cowardly and stupid that he couldn’t even muster up the courage to leave a la Vietnam.

That worn-out needle’s stuck again.

Also, could you imagine telling Americans in 2002 – even liberal Americans – that we would be forced by a lack of will to negotiate with, accept a promise of peace from, and recognize the legitimacy of the Taliban?

HitNRun on December 25, 2012 at 9:30 PM

Sadly, yes. I did imagine exactly that, and in September of 2001. It just took us a few years longer than I feared it would.

“They can try to wait the U.S. out, but the price is that they won’t be able to play in the political transition.”

So Ignatius’ “optimism” is founded in the idea that, if a sector of the Taliban embraces not killing Americans to have a say in Afghanistan’s politics, that will later prevent them from…what, exactly?

Also, could you imagine telling Americans in 2002 – even liberal Americans – that we would be forced by a lack of will to negotiate with, accept a promise of peace from, and recognize the legitimacy of the Taliban?

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/12/25/taliban-pretend-to-bend-on-rights-us-still-stuck/