U.S. defense bill would pay “Moderate” Taliban to switch sides
By Susan Cornwell – Tue Oct 27
WASHINGTON
Reuters
The defense bill President Barack Obama will sign into law on Wednesday contains a new provision that would pay Taliban fighters who renounce the insurgency, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin said on Tuesday.
The provision establishes a program in Afghanistan similar to one used in Iraq where former fighters were re-integrated into Iraqi society, Levin told Reuters.
Obama plans to sign the bill authorizing Pentagon operations for fiscal 2010 on Wednesday, the White House said.
Reaching out to moderate Taliban members is part of the Obama administration’s plan to turn around the eight-year war in Afghanistan. Levin also has advocated trying to convince Taliban fighters to change sides by luring them with jobs and amnesty for past attacks.
Under the legislation, Afghan fighters who renounce the insurgency would be paid for “mainly protection of their towns and villages,” Levin said.
It would be “just like the sons of Iraq,” he said, referring to the program used in Iraq which military commanders say helped turn around a failing war.
“You got 90,000 Iraqis who switched sides, and are involved in protecting their hometowns against attack and violence.”
The bill authorizes using money from an existing Commanders Emergency Response Program, which U.S. commanders can use for a variety of purposes. It does not set a specific dollar amount for the fighters’ re-integration program.
There is $1.3 billion authorized for the fund in fiscal 2010, which began October 1. The money must still be allocated by defense appropriators, who are working to finish the legislation.
.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
OMG
F-U Obama!
When we paid Iraqi’s it was NOT paying the terrorists. We gave money as far as I know to the civilians that were Iraqi and NOT the ones one would consider to be Taliban in Iraq. I might be wrong but that was my understanding.
Although the Taliban in Afghanistan is getting stronger , Obama still believes that he is going to reach out to the “moderate” Taliban members.
Did we pay Nazi’s to switch sides? How about the Japanese, did we pay them? No, instead we sent in massive amounts of men and equipment, unleashed the dogs, and stood back while they did what they did best…defeat the enemy.
This is right out of the Mob handbook. Just like Sullivan Gravano aka Sammy the ‘Bull’. Didn’t matter what he’d done if he’d squeal on Gotti he’d get relocated in the witness protection program. Where are they going to relocate all these “moderate” Taliban, here and what about their families. Once the NOT moderate Taliban find out some of their cohorts were bought out, their families lives won’t be worth a ‘plug’ nickel and these So-called moderates know this.
This is the dummest thing I’ve ever heard of. It should be interesting and comical at the same time to see how fast the money disappears before the end of the porgram.
If you have to buy loyalty, then you are buying nothing but trouble.
That’s what a “Community Organizer” does; if you have a problem, throw money at it. Not your money of course but money taken from the taxpayer. The outcome will be the same as in Chicago, you’ll have their loyalty until they spend the money and than you’re back where you started.
Like Mark says “If you have to buy loyalty, then you are buying nothing but trouble”.
Hasn’t Odumbo already been told there are no moderate Taliban, no moderate AlQaeda?
Unbelievable!
This ass hat President has to “take some time to decide whether or not to send more troops”, but is willing to sign a worthless piece of crap like this bill. Once you pay someone to side with you, they own you.
We are headed down a very dark path here, behind a gutless President and Administration.
It’s akin to paying off the Mafia to not shakedown a Chicago business. I call this treason!!!!
This is just wrong on so many levels. You don’t pay the enemy-no matter how nice he seems to be. It’s stupid and extremely dangerous!
Hey it’s only money. obama is very generous with our money, the taxpayers’ money.
Afghan tribes are nortorious for lack of loyalty. My guess is some will accept the money, the run off and attack us again. Let’s give them Barrak Hussein. Then see what happens.
Funding our enemy. Can this get worse?
BobF., well said!!!!!
Mark, your so right, their families will
be killed as an example. They won’t even
think twice about it either, they love
death even of their own.
I agree too about what you said about
loyalty.
RAC, thank you. I sure am learning
about what a Community Organizer is
and what they are like. I never
paid any attention to that kind
of thing before.
Your right that is exactly how
Obama works his agenda.
Bob A., yes your right. He was even told
by the Taliban themselves there is no
such thing. Obama will not listen to
anyone, not even the Taliban. The
height of being stupid.
SEAN, I agree, a very dark path for sure.
Jack, very true. And what is to stop them,
they the Muslims are all liars anyway,
and they take the money and still
go and kill our troops.
This whole thing is wrong, stupid and
dangerous.
Lynn,ditto all of that.
Tom, three cheers for that idea.
I agree, let’s give them Obama.
They can keep him and never let
him back into our country ever
again.
Jim, it truly is a nightmare.
The last time Obama broght up
moderate Talbain their reply was
hilarious actually. They laughed it
off and Obama was a joke.
Then they told him of how they
are fighters and would never do
such a thing.
yeah! Time Obama broke out his copy of The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire…. Paying off Rome’s barbarian enemy worked… for a while, eh? Maybe not so much.
Why in hell not just pay that money to the Military as a pay raise, and let them shoot the bastards? Keepin’ the buck in the USA, and Ending a Problem.
“99.999% of Terrorists are Muslim”
I agree with all the comments in this post.
In my estimation Obama puts Muslims on a pedestal, above our American values and above the safety of our service people.
I think this quote from his book ” Dreams of my father” says it all.
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
Is it any wonder Obama will do anything in his power to hurt this country, and promote Muslims???