THOUSANDS Rally in Kabul Against Karzai and Obama's Plan to Negotiate With Taliban

Thousands of Afghans protested against a reconciliation policy with Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists this week.

More than 10,000 Afghans gathered Thursday in Kabul to denounce the Taliban and Afghan government policies. (NY Times)

The New York Times reported:

More than 10,000 people gathered Thursday in Kabul to oppose reconciliation with the Taliban and the involvement of Pakistan in any peace deal, warning that it would be a betrayal of the Afghan people’s long fight against extremism.

The meeting, organized by a former intelligence director, Amrullah Saleh, and attended as well by Abdullah Abdullah, a former presidential candidate, was a frontal attack on the current government’s policies, and speakers denounced both Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The organizers promised that if they were not listened to, they would “go to the streets and protest.”

Under the name “a gathering for justice,” the meeting was attended overwhelmingly by Afghans from the north and particularly from Panjshir Province, the home of the Afghan icon Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was killed by suicide bombers backed by Al Qaeda two days before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Panjshir is also the home province of Mr. Saleh and Mr. Abdullah.

Both men have long experienced friction with President Hamid Karzai: Mr. Karzai forced out Mr. Saleh, and Mr. Abdullah withdrew from a runoff election against Mr. Karzai in 2009 because, he said, the voting would be rigged. “The Taliban and Al Qaeda are terrorists,” said Mr. Saleh, as he looked out across the crowd, many of them young people. “They have destroyed our lands and houses, dishonored our wives and families.”

Afghan people shout anti Osama Bin Ladan slogans during an Afghan government opposition rally in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday May 5, 2011. (AP/Kamran Jebreili)

The Obama Administration has also consistently supported Afghan policy that includes reconciliation with Taliban terrorists.

#1 May 7, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Taxpayer commented:

The Taliban s*ck so badly that I think Mohammed would even spit on them. And Obama wants us to negoatiate with these guys?!?!
#2 May 7, 2011 at 12:19 pm
ProLifer commented:

Afghanistan is a “black hole.”
#3 May 7, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Andreas K. commented:

The moment the Allies are out of A-stan, Karzai WILL roll over for the Taliban.

ProLifer is right. A-stan is a black hole.

Pull out now. It’s not worth it. This sh*thole of a country will eat up the lives of our soldiers and billions of money.

If they attack againk, nuke them. Easiest, cheapest and best solution.

You should have dropped a nuke on them in the first place. With the current tech, you have to be a moron to bother with the invasion of a country that has absolutely NOTHING worth capturing intact.

They kill 1,000 of us, we kill 10,000 of them.
They kill 10,000 of us, we turn their country into a nuclear wasteland.

That’s how it’s done. That’s the only language mohammedans understand: strength.
#4 May 7, 2011 at 12:39 pm
squeaky commented:

“And Obama wants us to negoatiate with these guys?!?!” we know how well it worked out for bill richardson – looking for that moderate taliban.
#5 May 7, 2011 at 12:42 pm
BurmaShave commented:

These two pictures are impressive. These people appear to be orderly, reasonably well dressed, and respectful; not your ordinary filthy rabid Muslim mob.

I am reminded of difference between Glen Beck’s rally last year and the rabble that invaded the Wisconsin State House a few months ago.
#6 May 7, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Robert commented:

These people must be very brave to attend such a rally.
#7 May 7, 2011 at 1:20 pm
RCL commented:

This is a good sign. As BurmaShave points out they appear to be a truly civilized mix of muslim “moderates”. Most likely serious businessmen who want the end of Karzai’s administration. Abdullah Abdullah actually won the last election but stepped aside to avoid violence. He’ll win the next one God willing and boot out Hamid.

At the same time there has to be a path for insurgents to change sides. The key to victory in Iraq was the wedge driven between the sheiks and Al Qaeda. The wedge in Afghanistan will have to be tribal; turning local tribes away from the Taliban Shura Councils.
#8 May 7, 2011 at 1:26 pm
squeaky commented:

one of my father’s friends went to afghanistan quite often – teaching machine skills, etc and loved the people. his last trip had him hiding in a closet to avoid being found by the “very bad people” as his hosts called them. the taliban was one group among others in afghanistan. a perfect example of people making bad decisions when it came to looking for someone to bring peace. i think we’re seeing and will be living some of that here.
#9 May 7, 2011 at 2:26 pm
John03 commented:

Nothing like a good ol fashioned tent revival.
#10 May 7, 2011 at 2:30 pm
jorgen commented:

Seand a SEAL team to “negotiate” with them.
#11 May 7, 2011 at 6:13 pm
bg commented:

++

i think it took a hell lot of a lot of guts to gather like that.. good for them,
a decade ago they all would have been mowed down, sort of like what’s
going on in Syria, Libya, and Yemen today..

==
#12 May 8, 2011 at 10:14 am
cal commented:

Before you get to praising this organized mob too much, ask yourself how many women attended this rally?
#13 May 9, 2011 at 9:03 am
Will commented:

My comment: Negotiations are key to ending this costly and counterproductive war. Pouring troops and money into Afghanistan has done nothing to improve security for either Afghans or Americans and its time for a new strategy. While talks should be central to this new approach (and Obama is not alone in calling for talks…highly experienced, and far from dovish, foreign policy hands like former Amb. Thomas Pickering and former Asst. Secretary of Defense James Dobbins say that talks are essential to the U.S. exit strategy) they must be accompanied by a significant drawdown of US troops beginning in July. Garrisoning 110,000 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan isn’t in America’s strategic interest and the $120 billion annual cost being added to our national debt represents a very real national security threat. More and more conservatives see the struggling economy and excessive borrowing for decade-long wars as the greatest threat to America’s national security. Ann Coulter, for one, recognizes that this war is “bleeding us dry” with no strategic benefit. You can find Coulter’s thoughts on Afghanistan here: http://www.afghanistanstudygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Coulter-Clip-Excerpt1.wmv