Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
U.S. commander in Afghanistan has reconciliation plan
| International
|
My Profile
Reuters Health Summit
Hear from CEOs and other business leaders
Get Exclusives
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
You Witness
The Great Debate
Blogs
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
You Witness News
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
U.S. commander in Afghanistan has reconciliation plan
Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:37pm EST
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Tuesday recommended a plan to stem growing violence by empowering local Afghan leaders, including former Taliban members.
"That is the local leadership that we have to work with for a successful outcome in Afghanistan," U.S. Army Gen. David McKiernan said while advocating support for district governing councils that are willing to accept the Afghan constitution and reject the Taliban.
"Reconciliation at the local level, of local fighters, of local influencers, potentially is a very very powerful metric," he said in remarks before the Washington-based Atlantic Council of the United States.
"This is a country that historically has had very little central government. But it's a country with a history of local autonomy and local tribal authority systems."
McKiernan laid out details of the strategy for engaging what he called "small-t" Taliban members, saying he is already talking to Afghan ministers about a prototype plan that would assemble district leaders into a shura, or tribal council, backed by western development aid.
Reconciliation with some Taliban members has already been embraced by U.S. officials as a possible antidote to surging violence that has reached its highest level since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled Afghanistan's former Taliban regime.
U.S. military officials have conceded that the United States is not winning in Afghanistan and that a 70,000-strong western military force cannot succeed without political, diplomatic and development assistance for the local populace.
"We're not going to run out of bad people in Afghanistan that have bad intentions and we're not going to kill and capture so many of these bad people that it's going to break the will of all the insurgent groups," McKiernan said.
"Ultimately it's going to be people that decide that they want a different outcome in Afghanistan. It's going to be a political outcome," he said.
McKiernan likened his plan to the so-called Awakening Council movement in Iraq, which began when local Sunni tribesmen in western Iraq chose to join U.S. forces against al Qaeda militants.
He said the plan he has discussed with Afghan ministers calls for Kabul to assemble local leaders into a shura council that would then select a representative committee with backing from the United States and the international community.
But he warned against empowering tribes to fight militants, which has been the approach in Iraq and more recently in Pakistan's tribal areas where militants have safe havens.
"I could spend the next 20 or 30 years in Afghanistan and I would not understand the tribal connections," McKiernan said.
"It's not a good chemistry," he added. "For every tribe that you support, you are disadvantaging other families and other tribes. And they know that, whereas you might not."
(Editing by Anthony Boadle)
© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
My Web
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
China seeks to curb unrest amid finance crisis
Also on Reuters
Americans embrace saving as nest eggs shatter
Slideshow
Modern day piracy: Somalia's pirate coast
Hillary Clinton job for Barack Obama may depend on Bill
Editor's Choice
Pictures
Video
Articles
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Space repair
Piracy
Beatles Song
Top News: Washington faces reform test
Lifestyle: Australia fights alcohol-fueled violence
Science: Kangaroo genes close to humans
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
Recommended
Texas grand jury indicts Cheney, Gonzales of crime
Cuban responds to SEC, says no secrecy deal
U.S. auto execs plead for Congress to fund bailout | Video
Alaska Democrat says beats Republican Sen. Stevens
Many doctors plan to quit or cut back: survey
Obama moves closer to key cabinet pick | Video
Herbal supplement Ginkgo doesn't stop Alzheimer's
Ford unveils revamped Mustang for 2010
Clinton job for Obama may depend on Bill | Video
Clinton job for Obama may depend on Bill
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Hijacked supertanker nears Somalia
Hopes fade for China missing
Obama, McCain pledge unity
2 die in public lynching in Bolivia
Obama chooses Attorney General
Paulson defends bailout spending
Congress weighs auto bailout
Paulson:TARP targets financial firms
Violence halts Uruguayan soccer
Kennedy returns to work
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
The Great Debate
Reinforcing what? The EU's role in Eastern Congo
The EU seems to lack the political will for military invention in eastern Congo. But it might still be a force for good if it can muster diplomatic unity and take on some practical short-term commitments in support of UN forces. Commentary
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 Ten killed in Pakistani Taliban and tribal clashes: official
Israel renews blockade of Gaza crossings
| International
|
Barclays' proposed Gulf investors amend injection plan
Japan opposition seeks to force early election
| International
|
Afghans expect more talks soon with ex-Taliban
| International
|
Congo replaces army chief after defeats by rebels
| International
|
Russia, China to resume $25 billion loan talks
China denies attempting to get U.S. space data
| International
|
Experts: Half world faces water shortage by 2080
Iran speaker urges Iraq to resist U.S. pact: report
| International
|
Taiwan's Hua Nan Fin to write off more bad debts
More Iraqis travel abroad despite airport chaos
| International
|
Taiwan c.bnk to adjust rates to suitable levels
Hijacked Saudi tanker off Somali coast: US
Iran MPs approve Ahmadinejad's interior minister
| International
|
Taiwan stocks fall
China oil demand weakens due to global crisis
Sci Fi's Sanctuary a true Web-to-TV pioneer
| Technology
|
Hong Kong index falls 4.5 pct as bank shares hit
China picks up 3G pace, Mobile completes gear deals
| Technology
|
ADB says Asia economically dynamic despite crisis
China stocks tumble on profit-taking
Mazda: Ford to cut stake to 13 from 33.4 percent
Nicole Kidman says she's unsure about future acting
| Entertainment
|
Unhappy people watch more TV: study
| Entertainment
|
Reunited Kate and Leo lost on Revolutionary Road
| Entertainment
|
Rock stars tuning up for guitar documentary
| Entertainment
|
Australia makers vow to protect Aboriginal boy star
| Entertainment
|
Bon Jovi writing new songs for hits set
| Entertainment
|
Forest Whitaker and Sundance trying to save Newark
| Entertainment
|
Sci Fi's Sanctuary a true Web-to-TV pioneer
| Entertainment
|
Iraq PM tries to rally support for security pact
Archeologists say they found witch doctor skeleton
Hijacked Saudi tanker reaches Somalia
| International
|
Web 2.0 gives new tools to hate groups: experts
UN resumes food distribution in Gaza
Landmark windpipe transplant uses patient stemcells
Iraq PM says pact's critics want U.S. troops to stay
| International
|
Iranian parliament chooses new interior minister
Iraq announces date for long-delayed elections
Astronauts begin first spacewalk of Endeavour mission
Iran aims for 2009 launch of nuclear plant
| International
|
Saudi super-tanker taken to Somali pirate lair
UN to hear Croatia genocide claim against Serbia:
US financial rescue package 'not a panacea': Paulson
Brewer InBev completes takeover of Anheuser-Busch
Accused Syrian arms dealer not a Spanish spy: U.S.
| International
|
Russia coma reporter had received death threats
| International
|
Seoul shares open higher but quickly lose gains
Obama's rise forces Brazil to look at racial divide
| International
|
Obama vows to engage world on climate change
South Korean won rises early, firmer stocks help
Obama vows to engage world on climate change
NATO chief calls for more non-US troops in Afghanistan
Israel renews blockade of Gaza crossings
| International
|
Schwarzenegger opens climate change summit
Top US military officer: Taliban gains upper hand
Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ posts 64 percent profit drop
World frets about piracy, ignores Somalis' plight: group
| International
|
Crisis could mean bargains for China
US, Iraq differ on Iranian meddling in military pact
India sees growth accelerating to 9 pct next year
Tech firms turn to social media to reach consumers
| Technology
|
China calls for US economic talks to continue under Obama
Gulf War syndrome is real: US panel
Taiwan to hand out shopping coupons to boost economy: PM
Cuban responds to SEC, says no secrecy deal
| Technology
|
Europe stocks hit day high, helped by Wall St, oils
China approves US-Belgian beer merger
DoCoMo, KT Freetel to develop smart phone: report
| Technology
|
Bakrie squirms as crisis slams Indonesia
IBM says plans to acquire Transitive Corp
| Technology
|
Stars walk red carpet for Australia premiere
| Entertainment
|
Cool cat Travolta is a dog in latest role
| Entertainment
|
Jackson may be too unwell to travel to UK court
| Entertainment
|
Bond film piles on the millions in Britain
| Entertainment
|
For Wall-E director, art mixes well with commerce
| Entertainment
|
New U.N. art work raises controversy
| Entertainment
|
Opera may be coming to a movie theatre near you
| Entertainment
|
US commander hopes Obama moves quickly on Afghanistan
US arrests suspected Iranian agent in Iraq
Somali pirates seize Greek carrier
| International
|
Afghans pushing for a return to public execution
NASA tests "deep space Internet"
Suspected U.S. drone attack kills four in Pakistan
| International
|
Five killed in US missile strike in northwest Pakistan: officials
Malkin takes ice hockey puck to the face, sees scoring streak end
Strong earthquake strikes Panama
| International
|
Britain resumes high-level intelligence links with Syria: report
Obama girls visit their future White House home
Iraq PM says pact's critics want U.S. troops to stay
| International
|
Party politics undermine German economic defences
U.S. commander in Afghanistan has reconciliation plan
| International
|
China seeks to curb unrest amid finance crisis
| International
|
China's Hu puts off Cuba debt payments
| International
|
Texas jury indicts Cheney, Gonzalez in prison abuse case
Seoul shares halve losses; bashed techs bounce
North and South Koreans find cause for unity: Japan
| International
|
US forsees resususcitation of Doha round at APEC
Socialism and consumerism rub shoulders in Tripoli
| International
|
Sands blames Beijing and Macau for halt on casino project: report
Obama picks first African-American attorney general: media
S.Korea bond futures jump on BOK liquidity pledge
US museum head says Mexico should get Mayan jade
Microsoft to offer free security software
| Technology
|
Seoul shares drop but off low; LG Elec up
South Korea won edges up, ends 6-day losing streak
Mazda buys back chunk of own shares from Ford
Wynn backs government's travel curbs in Macau
Hollywood's Wizard of Oz lauded for stunning, sexy epic
| Entertainment
|
ADB lends 300 mln dlrs to China for railway line
Transporter 3 a new low for the action series
| Entertainment
|
China to build new oil, gas pipeline across Myanmar: state media
Nissan expects 'zero' second-half profits: CEO
Big changes in store for low-rated Daytime Emmys
| Entertainment
|
Stars walk red carpet for Australia premiere
| Entertainment
|
Italy fetes half century of Fellini's Dolce Vita
| Entertainment
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights