Peace for Afghanistan?

[ToucanSpam]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/06/afghan.saudi.talks/index.html


AND


http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/10/04/afghan-war.html



The latter news report is more surprising to me, but it's a good thing that there is some action to end the invasion of Afghanistan. Thoughts on this?

[100% ILL]

U.S.- and Europe-friendly Saudi Arabia's involvement has been propelled by a mounting death toll among coalition troops amid a worsening violence that has also claimed many civilian casualties.

A Saudi source familiar with the talks confirmed that they happened and said the Saudis take seriously their role in facilitating discussions between parties to the conflict.

It's about time the Saudi's did something in this region besides cash checks and build hotels. As economically powerful as they are, up until now the Saudi's have had a "hands off" approach.
I'll wager they've been getting pressure from the US to get involved.



Western forces in Afghanistan will never be able to win the war against insurgents and may need to include the Taliban in any long-term solution


First off I'll say in my opinion nothing would give more validity to the Taliban then being "officially recognized" in any long term solution.
That being said however. Given the terrain and the fact that they are seasoned combat veterans, it is not beyond reason to assume this statement is correct. In any conflict there must be a "winning of hearts and minds" on a certain level. We (the US) has failed to accomplish this.
Furthermore, unfortunately our past record has not been stellar in the area of building up infrastructure once we achieve our military goals. So this may very well be an attempt to save face and return to the "status quo" of the region.

[ToucanSpam]

Honestly, I think "status quo" is better than the horrendous conditions that are now present in that area. If the Taliban have "separated" from Al Quaeda, perhaps there is potential for peace in Afghanistan. I'm as much a skeptic as anyone about this, but I would be extremely satisfied to see Canadian troops completely withdrawn and some sort of formal apology or payment for our invasion of their land.

[100% ILL]

I certainly agree as far as the "status quo". I really don't see an apology forth comming though.
They have proven that they will fight to last man if necessary to avoid a military victory from any foriegn nation. I think we went in like a bull in a china cabinet and then realized we'd gotten into something we did not truly know how to deal with.
This latest effort is about saving face (at least it appears that way) To formaly apologize or offer payment would be premature seeing as how we will most likely never leave completely.