Progress has been made with Taliban leaders to end the 17-year, $1 trillion US-led war [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters]
Business Insider: Trump administration reportedly wanted to use taxpayer dollars to repay the Taliban for their travel to peace talks
* The Department of Defense asked Congress for approval to use taxpayer dollars to reimburse the Taliban for travel expenses incurred attending peace talks with the US, Roll Call reported, citing a congressional official.
* Congress has reportedly not given the Pentagon approval to do so, as it would mean providing material support to a terrorist organization.
* The Taliban rakes an estimated $800 million a year selling narcotics and from other illicit activities.
The Trump administration asked Congress for funds to reimburse the Taliban for travel expenses incurred attending peace talks in Doha, Qatar, Roll Call reported Wednesday, citing a US official.
Earlier this year, the Department of Defense requested funding for fiscal year 2020 to "support certain reconciliation activities, including logistic support for members of the Taliban," Kevin Spicer, a spokesman for Rep. Peter Visclosky, an Indiana Democrat and chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, told Roll Call.
Read more ....
Update #1: Pentagon asked for funds to reimburse Taliban expenses: report (The Hill)
Update #2: Administration wants to reimburse Taliban’s travel expenses (Roll Call)
WNU Editor: Am I the only who feels nauseated right now?
7 comments:
Maybe get them all on a 737 max for their return flight? I'd throw in a few bucks for that.
Wnu, why?
In business we pay people all the time for their traveling expenses - employees but more fitting here, we pay external consultants, partners, everyone we want to urgently see.
If the Taliban can be convinced by paying some traveling expenses (like what, a million?) that's fine by me, especially as alternatives are a prolonged war, more death.
While the US could bomb them and kill them all - we all know that's what makes the US special - Putin would have bombed them all to death by now - but I rather hang out with Trump, Obama and Bush than Putin. Just look at what they did in Syria together with Assad.
In either case - as I'm sure every side has their own biased news, and propaganda - to which none of as is immune - whatever route to peace can be taken, should be taken. Sure, some things are hard for us to accept - but if the alternative is to kill them all - we better rethink our position as long as they leave us in peace too. I personally don't like Taliban for their religion, and how they treat women, gays and handicapped people, but the only military solution is just unacceptable and makes even those helpless people more vulnerable/increases likelihood of their death etc. So if that means to lose a war, - fully knowing we only retreated for the right reasons, what makes us "us" - so be it. Any damn day. It wasn't the smartest and thought through war to begin with, or would you argue that? :)
I had to check the date to reassure myself this was the obamma administration. It wasn't!
What are the hiring credentials that bring us this mindset? There is no doubt in my mind that a vote in this country on this proposal would be overwhelmingly rejected yet here it is. Brought to you by the not best and not brightest.
Is surreal the best word here?
the obamma administration. It wasn't!
Perhaps time to put aside your biases and confront reality
WNU Editor put aside his Trump bias? He'd sooner shut down the blog!
Let Pakistan and Iran their backers pay for the trip.
Barring that hold the talks in the UAE and let them pay their own f___ing way!
This smells of bureaucratic sheisse.
If I was Trump, anyone in the Pentagon who wanted this would get fired for instantly retired.
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