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Is now the time to negotiate with the Taliban?
By Tom Evans
Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.
(CNN) - The Taliban may have reached the peak of their military achievements in the War in Afghanistan, one of the world's top authorities on the Taliban said Monday.
And that position of relative strength might make them more amenable to talks, Pakistani journalist and author Ahmed Rashid said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
""They can't go much further than where they are now," Rashid said. "They're across the country. They're having shadow governors and shadow government in all the major provinces, but they can't take the cities because of NATO firepower. They can't create a populist movement against the Americans. They tried and failed to do that."
"So in a way," Rashid added, "the Taliban are in a very strong position, which actually might make them more amenable for talks right now."
His comments came as Afghan President Hamid Karzai steps up his efforts to reconcile with Taliban fighters and reintegrate them with Afghan society. In Kabul on Sunday, Karzai said, "The Taliban are welcome to return to their own country and work for peace in order for us to be able then to have the U.S. and other forces have the freedom to go back home."
And now your feedback
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Amanpour. viewers debated over the possibility that Britain's conservative party leader, David Cameron, could defeat Gordon Brown in this year's election. Britain’s role in rebuilding Haiti was a topic viewers also discussed. While part of the audience compared the U.S. leaders, President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain’s past election run to Cameron and Brown, others centered their discussion on Britain’s candidates and their Haiti good deeds. Most felt the Britain leaders did not show a proactive approach toward helping Haiti and expressed disappointment.
What are your thoughts? Please share your thoughts with us! If you missed the show go to http://amanpour.com
Below, you will see some opinions from viewers like yourself. We would love to hear what you think.
Email comments
Why hasn't anybody started to split the population and keep the women and kids in a separate area, with protection?
As for the line-ups, why has noone again organized lines for women, away from the centre with those selfish bullies, and add special line-ups for girls and younger boys, let's say up to 6 or 7, then line-ups for boys only maybe 8 to 12?
Who's the smart one giving food vouchers for women... only to have them walk away in the middle of the fury and the grabbing? Are they really going to find themselves WITH THAT FOOD, by the time they arrive at destination?? And if they do, how long will it last, until those same bullies steal it from them?
Can we have a few women organise this with intelligence? groups have to be separated. What is the need to have them all regrouped, with women holding babies, as we have seen, being shoved and smashed in the middle of the lines? Why did that happen even 2 weeks on in the disaster?
Mich
Marijuana replacing poppy
In Helmand province, CNN's Atia Abawi visits a field where marijuana plants are grown instead of poppies. One farmer says he's growing the drugs out of economic desperation – he says he would grow grapes if they would pay enough.
Tom's Take
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On AMANPOUR. today, we examine President Karzai’s plan for reconciliation with the Taliban. It focuses on the reintegration of low-level Taliban fighters with Afghan society. The goal is to persuade them to lay down their arms and disavow their allegiance to Taliban leaders in exchange for jobs and security. What are the realities on the ground that suddenly make including the Taliban in Afghanistan’s political process necessary? Is this capitulation or the only way forward? That’s only one of the top stories this morning. Here are some perspectives on some of today’s other headlines.
Tom Evans
Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.
HAITI – Is the latest international aid plan for earthquake victims finally going to end the logjam?
– aid agencies begin massive two-week food distribution effort aimed at reaching two million people in Port-au-Prince
– plan for aid to be distributed from 16 sites across Port-au-Prince, but on Sunday people at only nine sites were able to collect food, water and other supplies, because of security concerns and need for more preparation
– pickup points are being guarded by troops from U.S. and other countries because of fears of disorder
QUESTION: As the international aid effort gains momentum, what more is the Haitian government itself doing to step up its efforts to help needy people?
Haiti: The Agronomist
More on AMANPOUR. this Sunday at 2pm EST and 2100 CET.
The Agronomist
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlB7Y7xDB6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Tom's Take
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/16/christianetom.jpg caption caption="Sr. Writer for Amanpour, Tom Evans, works on scripts with Christiane"]
On AMANPOUR today, from Port-au-Prince, Christiane Amanpour talks about the long road ahead for Haiti with the Prime Minister and two prominent journalists who have had their eye on the country for decades. Then, Christiane turns to a wide-ranging discussion with Britain’s Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, who, polls suggest, could defeat Gordon Brown in this year's election and become Great Britain's next prime minister. The conversation will touch on Britain’s role in rebuilding Haiti, his views on Afghanistan, Iraq and al Qaeda and his plan for dealing with Britain’s economic woes. Now here are some perspectives on some stories in the news today, beginning with Haiti.
Tom Evans
Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.
HAITI – Has the world fully grasped the enormity of the medical crisis facing Haiti after the earthquake?
– Basic medical supplies running dangerously low at hospitals and makeshift clinics more than two weeks after the quake
– Some patients receiving treatment for serious injuries for first time since the disaster struck
– Aid workers say medical supplies are number three priority for distribution, after water and tents
QUESTION: Will there be a public health calamity in Haiti following the earthquake?
U.K. IRAQ INQUIRY – Will British people accept former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s justification for going to war in Iraq?
– Blair presents forceful defense of his decision to join U.S.-led war against Iraq in 2003
– Blair: 9/11 attacks dramatically changed risk assessments, raising concerns terrorists could get weapons of mass destruction from rogue or failed states such as Iraq
– Former PM said he had not determined from the outset that it was necessary to remove Saddam Hussein from power
QUESTION: Will the fallout from the Iraq inquiry make it much more difficult for British political leaders to support the U.S. in future military actions around the world?
TOYOTA RECALL – Will the massive recall of Toyota cars and trucks destroy the Japanese auto company’s reputation for reliability and safety?
– U.S. Congress says it will hold hearings on Toyota safety recalls over safety problems that potentially affect about eight million vehicles in North America, Europe, and China
– U.S. lawmakers want to hold hearing on “how quickly and effectively” Toyota dealt with complaints about sticking accelerator pedals and slipping floormats
– Washington Post: Toyota began facing complaints about runaway cars years ago, but did not install a “brake override” system even though several other carmakers were introducing that technology
QUESTION: Will this massive recall give other automakers, particularly Toyota’s battered American and European competitors, a chance to knock Toyota from the global Number One carmaker spot?
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