More Americans will die after Trump abruptly ends Afghan talks, Taliban say

By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Doina Chiacu

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump announces opioid response grants to state governments in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, U.S. September 4, 2019. REUTERS/Erin Scott

 

KABUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's decision to cancel Afghan peace talks will cost more American lives, the Taliban said on Sunday while the United States promised to keep up military pressure on the militants, in a stunning reversal of efforts to forge a deal ending nearly 20 years of war in Afghanistan.

 

The Islamist group issued a statement after Trump unexpectedly cancelled secret talks planned for Sunday with the Taliban's major leaders at the presidential compound in Camp David, Maryland. He broke off the talks on Saturday after the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack in Kabul last week that killed an American soldier and 11 others.

 

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, criticized Trump for calling off the dialogue and said U.S. forces have been pounding Afghanistan with attacks at the same time.

 

"This will lead to more losses to the U.S.," he said. "Its credibility will be affected, its anti-peace stance will be exposed to the world, losses to lives and assets will increase."

 

U.S. President Donald Trump says he has canceled peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban leaders after the insurgent group claimed responsibility last week for an attack in Kabul that killed an American soldier and 11 other people. Sarah Charlton reports.

 

In Washington, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Afghan peace talks were on hold and Washington would not reduce U.S. military support for Afghan troops until it was convinced the Taliban could follow through on significant commitments.

 

The United States has recalled U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad to chart the path forward, Pompeo said in appearances on Sunday TV news shows. Asked on "Fox News Sunday" whether Afghan talks were dead, Pompeo said, "For the time being they are."

 

Trump has long wanted to end U.S. involvement in Afghanistan - since his days as a candidate - and American diplomats have been talking with Taliban representatives for months about a plan to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops in exchange for security guarantees by the Taliban.

 

U.S. and Taliban negotiators struck a draft peace deal last week that could have led to a drawdown of troops from America's longest war. There are currently 14,000 U.S. forces as well as thousands of other NATO troops in the country, 18 years after its invasion by a U.S.-led coalition following the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the United States.

 

Fighting in Afghanistan has continued amid the talks and recent assaults by the Taliban cast doubts over the draft deal. As violence has escalated, Afghan leaders including President Ashraf Ghani have been increasingly critical of the deal and encouraged the Taliban to enter direct talks.

 

Asked whether the collapse of talks put a U.S. troop pullout on hold as well, Pompeo said the issue would be discussed. "The president hasn't yet made a decision on that," he said on ABC's "This Week."

 

CAMP DAVID SURPRISE

Trump decided to get personally involved to get the agreement to the finish line at Camp David after "real progress" had been made in talks, Pompeo said.

 

"President Trump ultimately made the decision," Pompeo told Fox. "He said, 'I want to talk to (President) Ashraf Ghani. I want to talk to these Taliban negotiators. I want to look them in the eye. I want to see if we can get to the final outcome we needed.'"

 

The U.S. president has touted his skills as a negotiator and personal rapport with world leaders including Kim Jong Un of North Korea, but such one-on-one diplomacy has not led to any breakthrough deals so far.

 

Trump was criticized, even by some fellow Republicans, for having offered to host on U.S. soil a militant group that has killed American troops and had sheltered al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

 

"Camp David is where America’s leaders met to plan our response after al Qaeda, supported by the Taliban, killed 3000 Americans on 9/11," U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican whose father, Dick Cheney, was U.S. vice president at the time of the attacks, wrote on Twitter on Sunday. "No member of the Taliban should set foot there. Ever."

 

Americans will on Wednesday mark the 18th anniversary of the al Qaeda attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

 

Taliban fighters, who now control more territory than at any time since 2001, launched assaults over the past week that included a suicide attack in Kabul on Thursday that killed U.S. Army Sergeant Elis Barreto Ortiz, 34, from Puerto Rico.

 

Earlier this month, senior security officials in Kabul said joint air raids by U.S. and Afghan forces against the Taliban have not subsided. Pompeo said more than 1,000 Taliban fighters have been killed in Afghanistan in the last 10 days.

 

Nine former U.S. ambassadors warned on Tuesday that Afghanistan could collapse in a "total civil war" if Trump withdraws all U.S. forces before the Kabul government and the Taliban conclude a peace settlement.

 

Pompeo downplayed chances of a premature withdrawal.

 

"President Trump made clear we’re not just going to withdraw because there’s a timeline. We’re only going to reduce our forces when certain conditions are met," he said on CNN's "State of the Union."

 

(Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi in Kabul and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Additional reporting by Hamid Shalizi in Kabul; Valerie Volcovici and Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Mary Milliken, Howard Goller and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-09-09

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The only response to these terror mongers is "bring it" 

The American invaded that country for no good reason. And invading Americans die. Maybe that should be a lesson for them not to invade other peoples' countries. 

33 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

The only response to these terror mongers is "bring it" 

 

Yes, "Bring it", to Camp David evidently? Maybe you meant some ceremonial Afghan treats for the hostus with the mostus? Note that the earlier response was "Sure, come on over right around the anniversary of 9/11, where we can negotiate with terrorists on our own soil".

 

No clue what the "plan" was, nor why it fell through, but diplomacy via tweet seems to be working a charm.

 

Now he's in a corner, can't leave and can't negotiate. Oh well, there never really was a plan when Bush43 stormed in. Maybe leave this steaming pile of poo for the next President.

 

Pompeo looks like this is taking a toll. Seems that Senate seat, assuming he could win, is looking tastier each day. His quote on Fox, "while this isn't a war of attrition..." was telling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 9, 20196 yr by mtls2005

32 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The American invaded that country for no good reason. And invading Americans die. Maybe that should be a lesson for them not to invade other peoples' countries. 

Normally I agree with you but the people controlling the country did the World Trade Center no sir under those circumstances you cannot turn the other cheek now Iraq on the other hand was a mistake 

41 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

The only response to these terror mongers is "bring it" 

They did, kicked ass, then got invited over for US to plead for an agreement.

Just now, Tug said:

Normally I agree with you but the people controlling the country did the World Trade Center no sir under those circumstances you cannot turn the other cheek now Iraq on the other hand was a mistake 

Interesting media release other day those " people" have still not be tried in court that's 20 years after the event?

Hopefully someone in "military intelligence" finally realized what the U.S. constitution says about protecting our own borders against invasion.  The Trillions of taxpayer dollars since 9-11 has done nothing to stop the Taliban, in fact they have increased heroin / opium cultivation 4 fold since 9-11 and the profits are staggering.  So not successful fighting the opium war, which of course is how the Taliban funds their terrorist activities  

"When US and British forces invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 poppies were grown on around 74,000 hectares - 285 square miles.

The new figures showed production had increased more than four-fold in 15 years: now opium was being grown on 328,000 hectares - 1,266 square miles".  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47861444

 

 

The War on Terror is vague by design. ‘Terror’ is not a clear enemy. It’s a vague opposition that theoretically exists all over the globe and can never be fully eradicated.

20 minutes ago, Tug said:

Normally I agree with you but the people controlling the country did the World Trade Center no sir under those circumstances you cannot turn the other cheek now Iraq on the other hand was a mistake 

 

You're referring to Saudi Arabia, perhaps? Home of 15 of the 19 '9/11 hijackers"? Or Or UAE, Lebanon, Egypt? Home of the others.

 

Mmm, nice orb. Yuck it up.

59 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The American invaded that country for no good reason. And invading Americans die. Maybe that should be a lesson for them not to invade other peoples' countries. 

 

Hawaii, Europe, japan, korea, vietnam, afghanistan, iraq, most south american countries, most of africa

 

where did USA not start covert and illegal wars ?

 

stupid poor dumb americans yelling USA USA going to die and maimed for life over lies and profits for corporations that bleed out the american tax payer

Trump should have invited them to secret conference at Mar a Lago. Maybe invite a few girls... or boys... or goats?

Im sure the 2nd amendment nuts would not object to the taliban having a few guns on them at the meeting. Just for protection of course.

Edited September 9, 20196 yr by Sujo

1 hour ago, justin case said:

Hawaii, Europe, japan, korea, vietnam, afghanistan, iraq, most south american countries, most of africa

 

where did USA not start covert and illegal wars ?

Idiotic list. Hawaii is part of the US. Europe (Britain) invaded the US and the US was dragged reluctantly into two European world wars. Japan? You believe the US started the war with Japan?  And Korea? The US has never been at war with any South American country. Are you drunk?

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

Trump should have invited them to secret conference at Mar a Lago. Maybe invite a few girls... or boys... or goats?

 

 

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Normally I agree with you but the people controlling the country did the World Trade Center no sir under those circumstances you cannot turn the other cheek now Iraq on the other hand was a mistake 

17 out of 20 of the terrorist plane take over crews were from Saudi Arabia. Afghanistan was harboring the Osama Bin Laden leader of the pack. Going into Afghanistan was a mistake, so was Iraq.

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Normally I agree with you but the people controlling the country did the World Trade Center no sir under those circumstances you cannot turn the other cheek now Iraq on the other hand was a mistake 

There is no evidence Afghan Taliban 'controlled' Al Qaeda at the time of 9/11 or since. So far as I know, nor is there any evidence Afghan Taliban were aware of the planning for the 9/11 attack or other Al Qaeda international terror attacks on Western targets. 

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Normally I agree with you but the people controlling the country did the World Trade Center no sir under those circumstances you cannot turn the other cheek now Iraq on the other hand was a mistake 

"The hijackers in the September 11 attacks were 19 men affiliated with al-Qaeda. 15 of the 19 were citizens of Saudi Arabia, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one was from Lebanon, and one was from Egypt.[1] "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijackers_in_the_September_11_attacks

 

Why didn't the USA invade Saudi Arabia?

1 hour ago, zydeco said:

Idiotic list. Hawaii is part of the US. Europe (Britain) invaded the US and the US was dragged reluctantly into two European world wars. Japan? You believe the US started the war with Japan?  And Korea? The US has never been at war with any South American country. Are you drunk?

Maybe google: US Army School of the Americas

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Pompeo downplayed chances of a premature withdrawal.

I'll wait to hear from Stormy Daniels on that matter.

1 minute ago, Srikcir said:

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Pompeo downplayed chances of a premature withdrawal.

I'll wait to hear from Stormy Daniels on that matter.

Maybe Trump should hire her as an advisor. I a sure she would be better qualified than many others in the White House.

It was beyond inane for him to cancel these talks. Americans are getting killed all the time overseas, due to the ridiculous and failed campaigns. It is important to remember that America has not won a war of any consequence since WWII. We need to get out now. This was an opportunity for Trump to prove he can negotiate, and get something done. His presidency so far has been a failure of epic proportions, and negotiating a peaceful settlement with these heathens would have been a good move. One more ball dropped by the man who cannot negotiate his way out of a paper bag, to save his life. 

21 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe Trump should hire her as an advisor. I a sure she would be better qualified than many others in the White House.

She does seem to have experience handling mushrooms.

Didn't invite to any of his properties in case there would be loss of normal business and cash flow.

34 minutes ago, jsmythbkk said:

Didn't invite to any of his properties in case there would be loss of normal business and cash flow.

Obviously he can't have any of those sand-nWord in his properties. Maybe in a tent somewhere in the backyard - if he has his generous day. ???? 

4 hours ago, Skallywag said:

Hopefully someone in "military intelligence" finally realized what the U.S. constitution says about protecting our own borders against invasion.  The Trillions of taxpayer dollars since 9-11 has done nothing to stop the Taliban, in fact they have increased heroin / opium cultivation 4 fold since 9-11 and the profits are staggering.  So not successful fighting the opium war, which of course is how the Taliban funds their terrorist activities  

"When US and British forces invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 poppies were grown on around 74,000 hectares - 285 square miles.

The new figures showed production had increased more than four-fold in 15 years: now opium was being grown on 328,000 hectares - 1,266 square miles".  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47861444

 

 

The War on Terror is vague by design. ‘Terror’ is not a clear enemy. It’s a vague opposition that theoretically exists all over the globe and can never be fully eradicated.

You seem ignorant of the fact that the Taliban WERE THE GOVERNMENT there in 2001. They had enforced a ban on poppy growing. It wasn't until the Americans took control that opium production sky rocketed. 

 

So Trump cancels peace talks because 1 American soldier was killed when in the last week and a half 1,000 Taliban fighters were killed. Fair to say something else pulled Trump's chain.

News is slowly leaking out, from Russia of course.

 

It's been acknowledged that the Russians have been trying to help the U.S. president look good - I know a challenging endeavor - and have been involved in the U.S.-Taliban-Afghan negotiations.

 

It looks like the Taliban demanded that the Russians attend the Camp David meeting, and that someone with half a brain realized that might "look bad".

 

Oh well, back to pushing Bernie, Tulsi and some "independent" candidates.

 

Amazing that Republicans are now congratulating the president for cancelling the meeting, which he set up. Go figure.

 

 

 

 

Draft peace agreement between the Taliban and the Trump admin said that U.S. forces will leave five bases in Afghanistan within 135 days of signing the document, the U.S. & the Taliban insist that Russia be present at the possible signing of the agreements.

 

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

its anti-peace stance will be exposed to the world

yeah right as you are  so peaceful arent you!

In this case, Trump's infamous, delicate and fragile ego will cause many more unnecessary Afghan,  coalition and American deaths. The blood will be on his hands. And it would be on his conscience, if he had one. The human wrecking ball continues his path of worldwide destruction, on a daily basis. 

 

Cannot wait for his election loss next year. Bye Bye Don. Prison Will be your future dwelling. And it will be well deserve and rightfully earned, from a lifetime of crime, fraud and deceit. 

Edited September 9, 20196 yr by spidermike007

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

"The hijackers in the September 11 attacks were 19 men affiliated with al-Qaeda. 15 of the 19 were citizens of Saudi Arabia, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one was from Lebanon, and one was from Egypt.[1] "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijackers_in_the_September_11_attacks

 

Why didn't the USA invade Saudi Arabia?

That is the real question. The answer is money, oil and lobbyists. The Saudis and the Pakistanis are the true enemy of the Western world. They do not deserve any respect or recognition. 

19 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

That is the real question. The answer is money, oil and lobbyists. The Saudis and the Pakistanis are the true enemy of the Western world. They do not deserve any respect or recognition. 

SA, agree, Pakistan, not so0 much. While there are many diehards, I also see a change in attitude from many, including government.