What a headline.
Looks like Jack Layton has been right all along in saying that diplomatic relations with the Taliban need to be part of a strategy in Afghanistan if we are to have any success in achieving peace the region.
MacKay changed his mind on the issue after British general, Brig.-Gen. Mark Carleton-Smith, came out publicly in favour of negotiating with the Taliban. From the CBC story:
The Conservatives have softened their position on talking with the Taliban after a British general said that Western forces will never win against insurgents and negotiations may be necessary.
NDP Leader Jack Layton jumped on that Sunday, saying he was "heartened" by British Brig.-Gen. Mark Carleton-Smith's comments to a London newspaper.
Later Sunday, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay said the Conservatives would be "supportive of discussions" provided the talks were headed by the democratically elected Afghan government, and as long as the "terrorists" renounced violence.
Layton has said negotiations are necessary, but MacKay rejected that in the past. "We are not having direct discussions with terrorists. We won't, will not, that will not change," he said on May 4.
Will the Conservatives apologize to Layton for calling him "unpatriotic" and even "Taliban Jack" for suggesting the diplomatic route for a couple years now? Doubtful. But it does feel good to be able to say I told you so.
You'll have to excuse me now. I feel the sudden urge to go post comments all over the Conservative blogosphere. Come join me if you like.
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2 comments:
Like there's some chance that the Taliban are going to talk to MacKay of Layton or NATO or the Americans in any case. They just spurned Karzai's latest attempt to talk. Their precondition is the removal of all Western forces. Unfortunately they're gathering support in the north and eastern provinces. There are now some 14-different entities participating in the insurgency - the Taliban is the biggest but it's just one.
They're winning this thing. They know it. They know the West will tire of it and leave. Then they go back to waging their latest version of Afghanistan's national game - civil war.
An American foreign service expert recently noted that there hasn't been a single Islamic state that successfully transitioned to a modern, Western-style country without first ridding itself of warlordism and tribalism - the very foundations of Afghanistan.
Geez, it's hard to keep up with Mackay's positions on issues on any given day... thanks for the update! His penchant for freelancing must drive Harper nuts. Give it a month and I'm sure it will be back to the "we don't negotiate with terrorists" line (assuming he's still around after Oct 14...)
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