“Haqqani accused Americans of flip-flopping and moving the goalposts when it comes to negotiations, claiming that the group even kept the door open when President Trump called off talks.”
That’s what this is all about: hitting Trump. If Hitler were alive today and criticizing Trump, you’d get a New York Times op-ed, “What We, the Nazis, Want,” by Adolf Hitler.
“New York Times slammed for Taliban leader op-ed: ‘Feels like a leaflet flyover,'” by Brian Flood, Fox News, February 20, 2020:
The New York Times is being criticized by many, including its own Afghanistan correspondent, after publishing an opinion piece Thursday by the deputy leader of the Taliban, who is wanted by the U.S. government.
The opinion piece, headlined “What We, the Taliban, Want,” was written by Sirajuddin Haqqani as the Trump administration is hoping to reach a peace deal with the Taliban that would end America’s longest war and begin the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan….
“When our representatives started negotiating with the United States in 2018, our confidence that the talks would yield results was close to zero. We did not trust American intentions after 18 years of war and several previous attempts at negotiation that had proved futile,” Haqqani wrote to open the piece. “Nevertheless, we decided to try once more.”
The Taliban leader declared that the “long war has exacted a terrible cost from everyone” and his group felt it would be “unwise to dismiss any potential opportunity for peace,” despite what he called “meager” prospects of its success.
“For more than four decades, precious Afghan lives have been lost every day. Everyone has lost somebody they loved. Everyone is tired of war. I am convinced that the killing and the maiming must stop,” Haqqani wrote. “We did not choose our war with the foreign coalition led by the United States. We were forced to defend ourselves.”
Haqqani wrote that the “withdrawal of foreign forces has been our first and foremost demand” and the Taliban standing “at the threshold of a peace agreement with the United States is no small milestone.”
Haqqani accused Americans of flip-flopping and moving the goalposts when it comes to negotiations, claiming that the group even kept the door open when President Trump called off talks.
“That we stuck with such turbulent talks with the enemy we have fought bitterly for two decades, even as death rained from the sky, testifies to our commitment to ending the hostilities and bringing peace to our country,” Haqqani wrote.
The lengthy column goes on to detail Haqqani’s claims, including that he doesn’t trust the United States and that an agreement would allow Afghans to “start moving toward lasting peace” and live with dignity.
New York Times senior correspondent in Afghanistan Mujib Mashal blasted his employer on Twitter.
“The piece by Siraj Haqqani in @nytopinion- which’s independent of our news operations & judgment – omits the most fundamental fact: that Siraj is no Taliban peace-maker as he paints himself, that he’s behind some of most ruthless attacks of this war with many civilian lives lost,” Mashal wrote before sharing links to several Times reports showing what Haqqani’s group has been accused of over the years.
According to the FBI’s website, “Haqqani is wanted for questioning in connection with the January 2008 attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed six people, including an American citizen. He is believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Haqqani also allegedly was involved in the planning of the assassination attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2008.”
There is a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest….
mortimer says
Millionaire Leftist Bill Maher himself gave a chilling and heartless example of the same Leftist Derangement Syndrome (as the NTY) when he wished the American economy to fail catastrophically so that Pres. Trump would not be seen as an effective president.
Deep in the cruel hearts of American Leftists lurks the wolf of totalitarianism. One can see them eagerly participating in the political executions of millions of Americans who merely disagree with their views.
What most of today’s so-called ‘Left’ doesn’t realize is that Globalism is anything but ‘Leftist’. Globalism is an off-shoot of crony-capitalist FASCISM.
Many billionaires see Globalism as their best opportunity to go from billionaires to the next level. The billionaires have no objection to international fascism or censorship of dissent as long as their companies are free to consolidate their control of markets and have cheap labor.
Globalist fascism is the agenda of the NYT. The NYT is participating in the suppression of dissenters from expressing anti-Globalist sentiments.
william carr says
Precious Afghan lives have been lost, and whose fault is that? The Taliban’s who have spent more time killing civilians than US/coalition forces. Did the foreign forces shoot teachers in front of the pupils? Did the Taliban throw acid on schoolgirls? The Taliban are little different from ISIS
gravenimage says
New York Times runs op-ed by Taliban jihadi wanted for questioning in connection with jihad murders
…………………….
The NYT is increasingly appalling.
Infidel says
You know you have it bad when Mohammedan employees like Mujib Mashal rake you for interviewing a leader of the Haqqani network!
At this point, the NYT should just move headquarters from Manhattan to Jalalalalalalalalalabad or Kandahar or Quetta: they’re likely to have more sales there.
spiro says
These people could give Hanoi Jane some pointers
Adam says
New York Times, the official paper of record. This is the view that will be used to frame the war for all time.
That view is always anti-American, anti-freedom and anti-capitalist. Its not just islam that wants you dead.
Infidel says
Essentially, it’s the English language print edition of al Jazeera. They should approach the Thanis of Qatar for funding
WPM says
The New York Times sided with Communist rulers of Russia in the 1930s when they were killing millions of their own people with forced starvation and deportation to the frozen wildness .They were writing articles praising the work Stalin was doing in Russia at that time. They would gladly praise put violent terrorist ,or power hungry dictators on a pedestal , give them a voice in the opinion page as long as they are anti American or anti Christian .The NYT is a part of the red green media machine willing to give voice ,support ,excuses for terrorism and while crying about “hate speech on line” about people who point out the truth on line. Trying to force, censor , shut down information about people who want to kill us and destroy our freedom.
No Muzzies Here says
Not surprising at all that the New York Times is giving aid and comfort to those who want us to become Muslim. After all, it did support Barack Obama.
Norger says
This from a newspaper that has been wailing nonstop about the dangers of disinformation since Trump’s election. Editorial space for one of the world’s most pre-eminent terrorists? But of course. (No worries, we’ll be sure to disable the comments)
I won’t hold my breath waiting for the NYT to give editorial space to Robert Spencer or anyone else who dares to take an honest, unflinching look at Islamic theology.
OLD GUY says
I have no problem with the NYT’s being critical with things that our political leaders are involved with. BUT they must print both sides of the stories along with editorials from experts on the other side. It’s totally misleading to not print the whole story or in this case to layout the background and history of Haqqani.
There are always two side of a news article, if you are a legitimate news media you should strive to print all opinions not just the ones you agree with. There are many experts in Islamic jihad who would disagree with Haqqani and who could provide facts and information to back it up. Will the NYT’s print a followup article from these experts? Probably NOT.