How The Taliban See The U.S. Surge

Taliban's Ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef speaks to the press October 10, 2001 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Zaeef's book "My Life with the Taliban" recounts his years as a young man in Kandahar, the hardships he and his family suffered under Soviet occupation and his eventual fight against the Russians alongside the future leadership of the Taliban. (Carlos Villalon/Getty Images)

U.S. Surge: How the Taliban Sees It -- ABC News

Taliban Adherent Abdul Salam Zaeef Discusses U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan.

Abdul Salam Zaeef, a member of the Taliban, said he has no interest in reconciliation and really can't understand what all the fuss is about.

His memoir, "My Life with the Taliban," recounts his years as a young man in Kandahar, the hardships he and his family endured under the Soviet occupation and his eventual fight against the Russians alongside the future Taliban leaders.

I wanted to get his thoughts on the U.S.'s plan to turn Kandahar, his birthplace, away from Taliban control.

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My Comment: The part of this report that caught my eye is the following quote from a former Taliban leader ....

"America is an occupier and will always be viewed as an occupier until the last American leaves."

"But what about all the things America has done for Afghans, such as building schools and hospitals?" I countered.

He took a moment, and then said, "The honey of America is the poison of the people." His meaning: Afghans would rather be free to make their own decisions, bad, wrong or otherwise, than to follow the prescriptions of an occupying force, no matter how benevolent it may be.

No one .... Americans included .... want to have their lives influenced and governed by someone else. For coalition forces in Afghanistan that perception is now held by enough Afghans that will make reconciliation and peace next to impossible in most parts of this country. Bluntly put .... they are too many of them who now want us out. What is in our favor is that I believe that the majority of the Afghan population probably still hate the Taliban and who have no stomach for their rule, but the Taliban are the ones with the guns .... and they (for the moment) have the will and the determination to now win this war.