Canwest: Canada considering Karzai plan to offer cash to Taliban: Cannon

LONDON — Canada will consider backing Afghan President Hamid Karzai's plan to offer jobs and cash to Taliban fighters willing to renounce violence and terrorism, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said here Wednesday.

Cannon said the proposal, to be formally tabled Thursday by Karzai at a conference of representatives of 70 countries and organizations, is "in principle" consistent with Canada's own position that supports efforts to encourage "reconciliation and re-integration."

He said Canada would only support such a program if the fighters disarmed and renounced violence and terrorism. That position came out of recommendations from the independent panel headed by former Liberal minister John Manley.

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Cannon rejected suggestions in the media that Karzai, whose government is plagued by corruption, is trying to bribe enemy fighters who were once described as "detestable murderers and scumbags" by retired general Rick Hillier when he was Canada's chief of the defence staff.

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http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Canada+considering+Karzai+plan+offer+cash+Taliban+Cannon/2491169/story.html

at least until the money runs out.

"If it means improving our falling poll numbers. Nothing we said before matters. Just call us the Taliban Tories."

Just please, please like us!