Taliban's Offer: Ironic, isn't it?

Raven · 10-06-2001, 01:58 AM

From the AP news

Taliban Offers US Aid Workers Deal

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban offered Saturday to free eight international aid workers accused of spreading Christianity if the United States stops threatening military action, the Afghan Islamic Press news agency said.

The news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry statement from the Afghan capital, Kabul.

``If they stop issuing threats, we will take steps for the release of the eight foreigners,'' it quoted the ministry as saying.

The private news agency, based in Islamabad, has connections to the Taliban. Efforts by The Associated Press to contact the Taliban directly for confirmation were not immediately successful.

The eight aid workers are charged with trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, a serious crime in that devout Islamic nation, especially under the strict rule of the Taliban militia.

The ministry, in the statement, linked the aid workers' fate with that of the Afghan population, weary from years of war.

``On humanitarian grounds, if aid workers are important, so are the people of Afghanistan who have been hit by drought, cruel sanctions and are facing winter,'' the ministry said, according to the report.

``Because of American threats, people are being forced to flee their homes, along with their children and women and old people. Are their lives not important?''

The defendants include two Americans, four Germans and two Australians. All are employees of the German-based Christian organization Shelter Now International.

Sixteen Afghan staff of the same aid organization also were arrested.

The Taliban's chief justice, Noor Mohammed Saqib, has refused to discuss possible punishment if the aid workers are convicted. For Afghans, the mandatory penalty for preaching any religion other than Islam is death.

The Taliban are facing increasing pressure from the United States, which accuses them of sheltering Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, the top suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Last week, Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, said he believed the Taliban's days are numbered. Late Friday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that if the Taliban do not give up bin Laden, they will become ``a legitimate enemy'' as well.

The Taliban, in the statement, said there was ``no evidence against Osama which we can consider.''

[This message was edited by Raven on October 06, 2001 at 06:28 AM.]

Raven · 10-06-2001, 03:54 PM

What I found ironic is the Taliban's words on why we should consider this offer.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``On humanitarian grounds, if aid workers are important, so are the people of Afghanistan who have been hit by drought, cruel sanctions and are facing winter,'' the ministry said, according to the report.
``Because of American threats, people are being forced to flee their homes, along with their children and women and old people. Are their lives not important?''

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To that I say, "What about the innocents who were killed on 9/11? Weren't their lives important too."

Seems he wants us to not hurt these people and I think they are innocents too, but what about our people who were slaughtered by them? He is now thinking of "human grounds"?

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``If they stop issuing threats, we will take steps for the release of the eight foreigners,'' it quoted the ministry as saying.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I guess we could do that, but not necessarily would it mean that the terrorists together with Bin Laden and the Taliban are still are free from that possibility. Just like they didn't threaten us or give us a warning, they did it and so could we do it to them in particular. Haven't they thought that this has been brought on by their actions? Why if they are so concerned with the innocent people in Afghanistan, turn Bin Laden and the terrorists and themselves in? Those words apply to them also.

They are either blind or very stupid not to see the truth of who is to blame for all this.

Raven

SKYCO · 10-06-2001, 10:59 PM

I feel sorry for them,they are pons caught up in in a chess game of reality.If everyone would leave there religous veiws in they'er own community and cultures and not push it on others who chose a different path it might help a little.I for one don't beleive in any religion,they have all dissapointed me!

SKYCO · 10-06-2001, 11:08 PM

They should have known

David Berg · 10-07-2001, 02:15 AM

I read an article recently that had an interview with a man who was coerced to join the Taliban's secret police a few years ago. As the mandates for his duties became more and more extreme, he finally became so disgusted that he defected to Pakistan. Near the end of the article is an interesting quote:

Quote:

It is the first time in Afghanistan's history that the lower classes are
governing and by force. There are no educated people in this administration - they are all totally backward and illiterate.

Looks like an interesting perspective, and I think it would help explain some of the obviously irrational and inconsistent statements coming from the Taliban leaders. He had one other quote which wasn't at all surprising:

Quote:

We laughed
when we heard the Americans asking Mullah Omar to hand over Osama bin Laden," he said. "The Americans are crazy. It is Osama bin Laden who can hand over Mullah Omar - not the other way round.

I sincerely hope, for the sake of the many good Afghan people and for the sake of safety from terrorism, that the effort the U.S. is leading is successful. Bush seems to have it right; get rid of the terrorists and those who support them, and help people in need wherever they are, including Afghanistan.

David Berg

[This message was edited by David Berg on October 07, 2001 at 05:41 AM.]

SKYCO · 10-07-2001, 08:37 AM

He's hiding under a big pile of sh*t in the outhouse outback.Says he don't care anymore.

cheesecake · 10-07-2001, 10:33 AM

It has begun. 30,000 US military forces deployed. May God protect all. I feel that we have opened a Pandora's box.

Scorpion · 10-07-2001, 12:22 PM

The Pandora's Box has been open for a long time. And while we didn't open it, we allowed it to be opened when we didn't demand that our government fight terrorism before it hit home. Hopefully, we can contain much of the evil coming out of that box.

The Taliban is a radical group hiding behind religion in their quest to obliterate freedom. They have enslaved the women of Afghanistan and supported and harboured Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden's terrorist organization. The Taliban never intended on turning over Bin Laden even though they admitted that the U.S. had credible evidence of his terrorist activities. They captured Western relief workers to use as pawns against us, and I fear those people may not survive. After all, the Taliban executes its own Afghan women (in a soccer stadium built with International money) for offenses such as begging for their family or trying to get an education. The Taliban would not hesitate to execute Westerners as retaliation, in my opinion.

But the world at large cannot let terrorism continue. Can we obliterate terrorism forever? Doubtful, but terrorists weren't always so strong, so we can take away most of their power. Hopefully, Muslims the world over can hold on to their impressionabe young men and instill in them the peaceful ways of Islam so they won't be brainwashed by the likes of Bin Laden. Piracy once ravaged our seas in the pre-industrial age, but it was pretty much wiped out. Terrorism too can be eliminated for the most part, but it likely won't be without innocent casualties, and it won't happen overnight.

There is a time and place for diplomacy, but organizations like The Taliban and Al Qaeda do not negotiate. They do not respond to talk, and therefore the U.S. and its allies have to use action--in today's events, military action. We can't let fear of retaliation keep us from defending our country, our way of life, and our freedom here in the U.S. and all over the world.

If a bully was beating up my brother, I wouldn't let him get beat up without trying to defend him just because I thought that might cause the bully's friends to come back tomorrow to retaliate. I'll defend my brother today and deal with tomorrow when it comes. As a kid, I refused to allow bullies to make me live in fear--today, that includes terrorists. If we let ourselves be ruled by fear, changing how we go about life in a free society, the terrorists have won.

~Rus

"Because you're not promised tomorrow." ~ Stuck Mojo

[This message was edited by Scorpion on October 07, 2001 at 03:31 PM.]

10-06-2001, 01:58 AM	#1
Raven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Earth Posts: 3,089	Taliban's Offer: Ironic, isn't it? From the AP news Taliban Offers US Aid Workers Deal ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban offered Saturday to free eight international aid workers accused of spreading Christianity if the United States stops threatening military action, the Afghan Islamic Press news agency said. The news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry statement from the Afghan capital, Kabul. ``If they stop issuing threats, we will take steps for the release of the eight foreigners,'' it quoted the ministry as saying. The private news agency, based in Islamabad, has connections to the Taliban. Efforts by The Associated Press to contact the Taliban directly for confirmation were not immediately successful. The eight aid workers are charged with trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, a serious crime in that devout Islamic nation, especially under the strict rule of the Taliban militia. The ministry, in the statement, linked the aid workers' fate with that of the Afghan population, weary from years of war. ``On humanitarian grounds, if aid workers are important, so are the people of Afghanistan who have been hit by drought, cruel sanctions and are facing winter,'' the ministry said, according to the report. ``Because of American threats, people are being forced to flee their homes, along with their children and women and old people. Are their lives not important?'' The defendants include two Americans, four Germans and two Australians. All are employees of the German-based Christian organization Shelter Now International. Sixteen Afghan staff of the same aid organization also were arrested. The Taliban's chief justice, Noor Mohammed Saqib, has refused to discuss possible punishment if the aid workers are convicted. For Afghans, the mandatory penalty for preaching any religion other than Islam is death. The Taliban are facing increasing pressure from the United States, which accuses them of sheltering Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, the top suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Last week, Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, said he believed the Taliban's days are numbered. Late Friday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that if the Taliban do not give up bin Laden, they will become ``a legitimate enemy'' as well. The Taliban, in the statement, said there was ``no evidence against Osama which we can consider.'' [This message was edited by Raven on October 06, 2001 at 06:28 AM.]

10-06-2001, 03:54 PM	#2
Raven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Earth Posts: 3,089	My thoughts on this newsbit What I found ironic is the Taliban's words on why we should consider this offer. quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ``On humanitarian grounds, if aid workers are important, so are the people of Afghanistan who have been hit by drought, cruel sanctions and are facing winter,'' the ministry said, according to the report. ``Because of American threats, people are being forced to flee their homes, along with their children and women and old people. Are their lives not important?'' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To that I say, "What about the innocents who were killed on 9/11? Weren't their lives important too." Seems he wants us to not hurt these people and I think they are innocents too, but what about our people who were slaughtered by them? He is now thinking of "human grounds"? quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ``If they stop issuing threats, we will take steps for the release of the eight foreigners,'' it quoted the ministry as saying. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I guess we could do that, but not necessarily would it mean that the terrorists together with Bin Laden and the Taliban are still are free from that possibility. Just like they didn't threaten us or give us a warning, they did it and so could we do it to them in particular. Haven't they thought that this has been brought on by their actions? Why if they are so concerned with the innocent people in Afghanistan, turn Bin Laden and the terrorists and themselves in? Those words apply to them also. They are either blind or very stupid not to see the truth of who is to blame for all this. Raven

10-06-2001, 10:59 PM	#3
SKYCO Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: CINCINNATI,OH.,U.S. Posts: 2,653	WHAT A SHAME! I feel sorry for them,they are pons caught up in in a chess game of reality.If everyone would leave there religous veiws in they'er own community and cultures and not push it on others who chose a different path it might help a little.I for one don't beleive in any religion,they have all dissapointed me!

10-06-2001, 11:08 PM	#4
SKYCO Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: CINCINNATI,OH.,U.S. Posts: 2,653	COULD YA GIVE ME AN X-TRA HELPING OF JESUS WITH THAT BOWL OF RICE They should have known

10-07-2001, 08:37 AM	#6
SKYCO Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: CINCINNATI,OH.,U.S. Posts: 2,653	GREAT NEWS.....I FOUND GOD He's hiding under a big pile of sh*t in the outhouse outback.Says he don't care anymore.

10-07-2001, 10:33 AM	#7
cheesecake Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,522	US Launched Air strikes on Afghanistan It has begun. 30,000 US military forces deployed. May God protect all. I feel that we have opened a Pandora's box.

10-07-2001, 12:22 PM	#8
Scorpion Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,597	The Pandora's Box has been open for a long time. And while we didn't open it, we allowed it to be opened when we didn't demand that our government fight terrorism before it hit home. Hopefully, we can contain much of the evil coming out of that box. The Taliban is a radical group hiding behind religion in their quest to obliterate freedom. They have enslaved the women of Afghanistan and supported and harboured Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden's terrorist organization. The Taliban never intended on turning over Bin Laden even though they admitted that the U.S. had credible evidence of his terrorist activities. They captured Western relief workers to use as pawns against us, and I fear those people may not survive. After all, the Taliban executes its own Afghan women (in a soccer stadium built with International money) for offenses such as begging for their family or trying to get an education. The Taliban would not hesitate to execute Westerners as retaliation, in my opinion. But the world at large cannot let terrorism continue. Can we obliterate terrorism forever? Doubtful, but terrorists weren't always so strong, so we can take away most of their power. Hopefully, Muslims the world over can hold on to their impressionabe young men and instill in them the peaceful ways of Islam so they won't be brainwashed by the likes of Bin Laden. Piracy once ravaged our seas in the pre-industrial age, but it was pretty much wiped out. Terrorism too can be eliminated for the most part, but it likely won't be without innocent casualties, and it won't happen overnight. There is a time and place for diplomacy, but organizations like The Taliban and Al Qaeda do not negotiate. They do not respond to talk, and therefore the U.S. and its allies have to use action--in today's events, military action. We can't let fear of retaliation keep us from defending our country, our way of life, and our freedom here in the U.S. and all over the world. If a bully was beating up my brother, I wouldn't let him get beat up without trying to defend him just because I thought that might cause the bully's friends to come back tomorrow to retaliate. I'll defend my brother today and deal with tomorrow when it comes. As a kid, I refused to allow bullies to make me live in fear--today, that includes terrorists. If we let ourselves be ruled by fear, changing how we go about life in a free society, the terrorists have won. ~Rus "Because you're not promised tomorrow." ~ Stuck Mojo [This message was edited by Scorpion on October 07, 2001 at 03:31 PM.]

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