_GR_, 2001

[Tiarnan O'Corrain]

> Jbor wrote:
> 
> Doug, it was the Taliban who refused to negotiate. The U.S. 
> simply asked
> that Osama be turned over, which was a reasonable demand. 

And the Taliban simply asked for evidence that Bin Laden was
involved in the Sept 11 attacks. An eminently reasonable request.

> That the Taliban
> refused to accede to this request, made on several separate occasions
> through various diplomatic initiatives, proved the regime's 
> complicity.

Incorrect. That the United States refused to supply a shred of
evidence indicates that they don't have any. A sovereign nation,
no matter how obnoxious (the Taliban, the USA, take your pick)
doesn't extradite someone without being given good reasons.

> They declared war on the U.S., after all.

Who did? Where's the declaration of war? 

> Had the Taliban handed over Osama then no military action 
> against them would have occurred. 

Not so sure. That Caspian Sea sure is full of oil.

> That would have been a great pity, because the Taliban
> leaders are monsters, and by putting them down the West is 
> doing the Afghani people a huge favour.

Indeed. The Afghans would probably be happier without the
Taliban, under the peaceful rule of the Mujahadeen, when songbirds
sang in verdant fields and little fauns dipped their ivory hooves
in plashing rills.

I'm sure the Afghans are *very* grateful to the US for this kind
favour.

Tiarnan