General

Taliban reject peace deal

Islamists’ website says victory ‘right around the corner’

Oh, that peace deal with the Taliban? The one that had a lot of people crowing “Jack (Layton) was right”? (Get well soon, Jack.) Turns out the Taliban want no part of it. Afghan President Hamid Karzai started the peace buzz last month at a conference in London, when he unveiled a plan to invite the Taliban to a peace council. But in a statement posted on their website—yes, there’s a Taliban website—the Islamic extremist group rejects the offer of talks, as they have all previous offers. “The invading Americans and all their invading allies should understand the objective of the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate is more lofty and exalted than that the rulers of the White House could imagine,” the statement said.”These sacrificing mujahideen believe that the obtainment of this lofty goal is only possible through laying down their lives.” That’s the trouble with peace: there are fewer opportunities to die.

Reuters

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