Taliban deputy leader Sirajuddin Haqqani penned an opinion piece for The New York Times.
Peter Bergen, CNN: What the New York Times didn't tell readers about its Taliban op-ed is shocking
(CNN) On Thursday, the New York Times published an op-ed by Sirajuddin Haqqani under the headline, "What We, the Taliban, Want." In his op-ed, Haqqani wrote, "I am convinced that the killing and the maiming must stop."
The Times described Haqqani as "the deputy leader of the Taliban." But this bland descriptor doesn't capture who Haqqani really is. According to the FBI, Haqqani is a "specially designated global terrorist." The FBI is offering $5 million for information leading directly to his arrest.
The US State Department is also offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that brings Haqqani to justice. The only terrorist who has a higher reward is the current leader of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Will the Times be offering Zawahiri an op-ed spot next?
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Previous Post: Deputy Leader Of The Taliban Says He Is Committed To Peace (February 20, 2020).
Update #1: New York Times gets criticized for publishing an op-ed written by Taliban leader (Business Insider)
Update #2: New York Times slammed for Taliban leader op-ed: 'Feels like a leaflet flyover' (FOX News).
WNU Editor: The above post by CNN's Peter Bergen is spot on.
Is he unsavory? Certainly. Should they have spelled out the fact that a leader of AlQaeda has blood on his hands? I think an intuitive reader could determine such.
ReplyDeleteWith a peace deal being a development in Afghanistan, would a reader not want to an unbiased first hand account/primary source, from a leader of the opposing side? I don’t see how this is outrage worthy.
If you cannot understand your opponent, you cannot win. - Sun Tzu (roughly)
Is he unsavory? Certainly. Should they have spelled out the fact that a leader of Taliban has blood on his hands? I think an intuitive reader could determine such.
ReplyDeleteWith a peace deal being a development in Afghanistan, would a reader not want an unbiased first hand account/primary source, from a leader of the opposing side? I don’t see how this is outrage worthy.
If you cannot understand your opponent, you cannot win. - Sun Tzu (roughly)
*edited*
The Haqqqani were originally separate from the Taliban.
ReplyDeleteThe Haqqani physically live in Pakistan, have for a long time and have Pakistani Passports.
SO why is a Pakistani being interviewed on behalf of the Taliban?
The allies of the Haqqani Netwrek are The Taliban and Pakistan.
"is thought to be based in the town of Miramshah in Pakistan"
Pakistan? Why Pakistan?
"The Haqqani network pledged allegiance to the Taliban in 1995"
Daimyo overcoming Shogun.
The Long War Journal has extensively covered the Haqqani Network based our of North Waziristan. This is article on the bombing of Forward Operating Base Salerno near Khost on June 1, 2012, while my son was working there. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2012/07/24/taliban-release-video-of-haqqani-network-suicide-assault-on-fob-salerno/
ReplyDelete