News and Views

This opinion piece was published on October 28, 2008 in USA Today

For the Afghan government or the United States to negotiate with the Taliban to stop the insurgency involves extraordinary risks.

Let us remember that the Taliban was a radical regime in Afghanistan with an appalling record of human rights abuses against women, children and anyone who opposed it. And it provided the sanctuary for al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks on the US.

Since 2001, the Taliban’s brutal insurgency has sought to destroy Afghanistan’s emerging democracy. It ruthlessly murders Afghan men, women and children, blows up schools, and destroys the infrastructure critical for modernizing Afghanistan. With the Taliban’s record, what concessions could the government reasonably concede?

Any negotiations involving Washington would undermine US credibility. Spurred by the 9/11 attacks, the US ended Taliban control in order to build a democratic society in Afghanistan and prevent the resurgence of the Taliban’s extremist policies.

Negotiations would legitimize questions about whether US policy was serious. Was US policy a firm statement of principle or momentary convenience? Critics would charge that Washington’s talk about rebuilding an independent Afghanistan was just talk.

Given that background, it is unclear what negotiations would accomplish.

Since radical ideologies by their nature do not compromise, we are rightly skeptical about any Taliban claims of conversion to democracy. More likely, the Taliban would see any negotiations as the instrument for winning politically what it could not accomplish militarily.

The idea of negotiating with the Taliban might come from pessimism about defeating the Taliban insurgency, skepticism about democracy succeeding or a waning desire to fight after seven years of war. That matters less than the fact that negotiations could convince the Taliban that Afghanistan’s government and the United States have doubts about victory and want a way out of the war.

Negotiations would only weaken Afghanistan, sow doubts about US policy and strengthen the Taliban.

William C. Martel, author of Victory in War (2007), is associate professor of international security studies at The Fletcher School at Tufts University in Massachusetts. He is a member of the Bedford Republican Committee.

What a fun guy Joe Biden is! I loved it when he remarked at a New Hampshire town hall meeting two weeks ago that Hillary Clinton “might have been a better pick than me”. He went on to say that Clinton “is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of the United States of America”. Gosh, I hate to argue with the man.

More recently, Joe Biden criticized his own campaign for the attack ad on John McCain which criticized McCain for his lack of savvy when it comes to computers and e-mail. Joe knew that John McCain was shot down during his service in the Viet Nam war and was injured with many broken bones including arms, hands and fingers. His captors weren’t too careful making sure he healed properly. As a result, keyboard stress is a bigger issue for John McCain than the rest of us who happily tap away all day. Perhaps Joe, you should have alerted that running mate of yours in advance of this ad how distasteful it would be, but thanks anyway.

And just this past week Joe Biden spoke out in opposition to the government bailout of the AIG conglomerate. Not a bad position Joe, but problem is your running mate is busy criticizing John McCain for his opposition to a federal bailout of AIG. But thanks for speaking your mind, even if your running mate disagrees.

Gosh, I love Joe Biden but if he and his running mate, Barack can’t get on the same page about these issues now, how could they possibly pull it together if elected to serve in the White House? Easy answer: Love Joe, Vote McCain.

Laura Condon is a member of the Bedford Republican Committee.

Disgusting, offensive, and unconscionable. That’s the most recent mailing from Carol Shea-Porter and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. If you haven’t seen it, it is a graphic, gripping picture of a double amputee, represented as a Purple Heart Veteran on his prosthetics. This could be my son, Carol Shea-Porter or some other brave warrior to whom we all should be indebted and honor with respect. Instead you spit on this young man’s honor by using him as a graphic ploy in your desperate bid to maintain your congressional seat. I don’t know if you are heartless or desperate or both but the offense created by your mailing hit home here and I’m sure for many other kind, caring New Hampshire families as well.

Jeb Bradley is the man we want back in Congress to offer the kind of respect, compensation and benefits our service men and women and our veterans deserve. For his hard work on behalf of these brave veterans Jeb has received the 2008 Citizen of the Year Award from the NH chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a distinction Ms. Shea-Porter could never possibly earn with this demonstration of contempt. Voters, don’t believe the lies. If you are looking for a true supporter of our brave men and women who put country before self, Jeb Bradley is the Congressman who will give them everything they so valiantly deserve…and we owe them that. Please vote Jeb Bradley for Congress.

Laura Condon is a member of the Bedford Republican Committee