I see that Rick has already beaten me to this story. Read his take immediately below.
...
KABUL, Afghanistan -- For months, the secret talks unfolding between Taliban and Afghan leaders to end the war appeared to be showing promise, if only because of the appearance of a certain insurgent leader at one end of the table: Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, one of the most senior commanders in the Taliban movement.But now, it turns out, Mr. Mansour was apparently not Mr. Mansour at all. In an episode that could have been lifted from a spy novel, United States and Afghan officials now say the Afghan man was an impostor, and high-level discussions conducted with the assistance of NATO appear to have achieved little.
"It's not him," said a Western diplomat in Kabul intimately involved in the discussions. "And we gave him a lot of money."
American officials confirmed Monday that they had given up hope that the Afghan was Mr. Mansour, or even a member of the Taliban leadership.
Lifted from a spy novel? More like an episode of Get Smart, or an Austin Powers movie. Much as I hate to keep playing this card, I just have to ask -- what if this had happened during the Bush presidency? Feel free to use your imagination.
Of course now that we're in the era of "Smart DiplomacyTM" ... oh, never mind.
Tom Maguire writes, "as soon as I finish Thanksgiving dinner, I am flying to Afghanistan. It is past time for Mullah Muckwuck Muffinbottom to negotiate peace with honor. And I take credit cards."
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Dumbasses
Tags: Afghanistan, impostor, Taliban
Comments (11)
I wanted in on this story t... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Jay Tea | November 23, 2010 6:56 AM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
I wanted in on this story too, Michael... curse that Rick.
J.
1. Posted by Jay Tea | November 23, 2010 6:56 AM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 06:56
2. Posted by Jay Tea | November 23, 2010 6:57 AM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
But at least I beat you to the "3:00 a.m." reference...
J.
2. Posted by Jay Tea | November 23, 2010 6:57 AM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 06:57
3. Posted by inge | November 23, 2010 7:31 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I guess this guy used barry's way to get some money, and sale snakeoil; after all it got barry elected, namely lying!
All sarcasm aside, this is the most pathetic thing obama, and his dreamteam have done!
How many soldiers are going to get killed, financed by obama?
Ther should be an investigation, something is not right about that. Together with, the terrorists request for 5mil financing the mosque in NY!
3. Posted by inge | November 23, 2010 7:31 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 07:31
4. Posted by hermie | November 23, 2010 7:56 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Obama has already decided how to reduce the deficit. He received an email from an ex-Nigerian official who has billions of dollars that he'll share with Obama. All Obama has to do is to provide his bank account number and social security number.
4. Posted by hermie | November 23, 2010 7:56 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 07:56
5. Posted by retired military | November 23, 2010 8:06 AM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Hermie
"All Obama has to do is to provide his bank account number and social security number.
"
Why provide his when he can just give them the access codes to the US Treasury so they can "Direct deposit"
5. Posted by retired military | November 23, 2010 8:06 AM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 08:06
6. Posted by hermie | November 23, 2010 8:45 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
RM:
Obama also got a check from the EU Lottery which he has to deposit. The check is more than what he was entitled to, so he has to send back a cashier's check for the difference.
6. Posted by hermie | November 23, 2010 8:45 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 08:45
7. Posted by Eric | November 23, 2010 9:42 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Obama's so stupid he would send out the nuclear launch codes by mistake.
7. Posted by Eric | November 23, 2010 9:42 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 09:42
8. Posted by GarandFan | November 23, 2010 10:18 AM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
"And we gave him a lot of money."
Figures.
8. Posted by GarandFan | November 23, 2010 10:18 AM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 10:18
9. Posted by Hank | November 23, 2010 10:52 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
From Iowahawk...
WH in secret talks with high level Taliban who turns out to be imposter.... In related news, media calls Palin stupid
9. Posted by Hank | November 23, 2010 10:52 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 10:52
10. Posted by irongrampa | November 23, 2010 10:53 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
"Smart Diplomacy?"
These people make the Keystone Kops look positively brilliant.
10. Posted by irongrampa | November 23, 2010 10:53 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 10:53
11. Posted by marie | November 23, 2010 2:19 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Is this the 'smart power' foreign policy that Hillary Clinton said was so lacking in the Bush administration?
11. Posted by marie | November 23, 2010 2:19 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 23, 2010 14:19