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abakan

(1,815 posts)
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 12:35 PM Jun 2014

Prisoner Trade Yields Rare View Into the Taliban

Last edited Mon Jun 2, 2014, 01:15 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: NYTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/02/world/asia/soldier-prisoner-trade-for-five-taliban-figures-offers-rare-view.html?ref=politics&_r=0

KABUL, Afghanistan — The freeing of five senior Taliban figures in exchange for the American soldier, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, has offered both a rare insight into the insurgent group’s inner workings and a diplomatic first in the long Afghan war: a negotiated agreement between the highest levels of the American government and the pinnacle of the Taliban command.

Representatives of both sides played down the idea that the exchange, long seen as a crucial prelude to any broader talks, might breathe new life into the effort to engage the Taliban in a peace effort. But the complex swap showed “each side that the other can deliver,” said one senior American official close to the effort. And it gave both the Taliban leadership and the Obama administration important political symbols.

For the Taliban, the delivery of five of its most prominent figures to freedom in Qatar was the culmination of years of effort to secure the men’s release and to receive legitimacy on an international stage. And it seemingly answered questions about whether the group’s reclusive leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, was still in charge of its disparate factions, demonstrating “that there was a span in control that went through the representatives in Doha, to the Taliban command, and to the individuals who were holding him, presumably somewhere in Pakistan,” the American official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss Sergeant Bergdahl’s release.

For the Obama administration, too, the exchange was an important achievement: the prospect of Sergeant Bergdahl’s return to his family in Idaho after nearly five years as a hostage of the Taliban struck a humanitarian and emotional note for an administration trying to wind down the war.

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dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
1. You need to abbreviate what you posted due to copyright rules here on DU.
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 12:44 PM
Jun 2014

Reduce to 4 paras.

See :

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abakan

(1,815 posts)
3. Thanks...
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 01:02 PM
Jun 2014

I was trying to add a portion with a link to the whole article, but since the NYT is a subscription service, I knew some would not be able to read it. So I did what I thought was the next best thing. I provided a source and credit lines at the bottom of the page. How do I post from things I have subscriptions to without having this problem?

OregonBlue

(7,744 posts)
4. Doesn't matter. Don't violate copyright rules. You need to edit your post and provide the link. NYT
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 01:08 PM
Jun 2014

allows several free articles per month.

OregonBlue

(7,744 posts)
7. I'm aware of that but, the policy is to copy no more than 4 paragraphs of the article and then
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 06:05 PM
Jun 2014

provide the link. You don't want DU to be sued for copyright infringement do you?

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
6. Maybe the Taliban political leaders in 2001 when they ruled also have families who are delighted
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 01:10 PM
Jun 2014

to have them back?
Maybe they also are human, and see we arrested two of them when they reached out to help the new power in their country.

Chathamization

(1,638 posts)
9. There's a good chance the Taliban will have some power in Afghanistan for years to come.
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 07:35 PM
Jun 2014

One of the important parts of the trade which doesn't get enough attention (but which your article talks about) is that it's a good for the US to try to be on better terms with the Taliban when we leave.

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