McConnell: Taliban, al Qaeda Connected

GOP Senator Says Possible Accommodation With Taliban to Focus Fight Against al Qaeda Is "Troubling"

(CBS)  Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell called the Obama administration's possible move to find accommodation with the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan "troubling."

As originally reported by the Washington Post on Friday, some in the White House see the Taliban as a "deeply-rooted political movement in Afghanistan" that requires a different approach than al Qaeda.

"You do get the impression that the administration - at least some in the administration - are trying to distinguish between al Qaeda and the Taliban. Well, they are different, but they are inter-connected," McConnell, R-Ky., told "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer Sunday.

"We know that when the Taliban was in charge in Afghanistan, al Qaeda was allowed to operate freely. We know they launched the 9/11 attack from there, planned it and launched it from there,"

He noted that this weekend's militant attack upon a military headquarters in Pakistan "underscores the danger of the Taliban," particularly in a nation armed with nuclear weapons.

"The Taliban taking over a country like Pakistan would be completely and totally unacceptable destabilizing not only in that area of the world but all around."

The Republican leader said he hopes President Obama listens to the suggestions of Generals Petraeus and McChrystal to send additional combat troops to the region to continue the counterinsurgency strategy focusing both on al Qaeda and the Taliban.

"Our generals have told us the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated," he said. "I think we need to take this very, very seriously."

He added that if President Obama were to come to Congress asking for approval to send an additional 40,000 troops to Afghanistan, he will be met with "overwhelming" Republican support.

"[T]his is not just about nation building," McConnell told Schieffer. "This is about protecting the United States of America. We know that we can't have a haven over there for the reconstitution of al Qaeda."

Schieffer asked McConnell why he suggested General McChrystal testify before Congress rather than just advise the administration and have President Obama appeal to Congress.

"Because we appropriate the funds," he said. "It's not uncommon for generals to come up and speak to us about what they're recommending. At some point here certainly the president will make a decision. If he chooses to wait until then to have General McChrystal come up, that's his prerogative. We're going to want to hear from those who will implement the strategy."

Finally, he admitted that the Karzai government in Afghanistan is a "flawed administration," but said the main objective in the U.S.-Afghanistan partnership is "protecting the United States of America.

"We know that [Afghanistan] has been a haven for terrorists in the past. We don't want to let it become a haven for terrorists again," McConnell said.

[bubbadubba]

Of course the FACT that every single 9/11 terrorist murderer was from Saudi Arabia and was led by Saudi Arabians using Saudi oil money and that Al Qaida still has its roots in Saudi Arabia is not something we want to talk about since it might offend the oil companies.
Better to try and expand the war in Afghanistan for profits!
Typical Republican Senator clown.
Senator McClownnel, who was supposed to have flunked a physical before being sent to Vietnam (his Afghanistan).

"If the Selective Service Classification Record is correct and Mitch McConnell didn't receive Armed Forces Physical Examination, then how could he flunk the Armed Forces Physical Examination he didn't take and what is the real reason Mitch McConnell didn't serve his country during the Vietnam war?"

[msimamaji]

By bringing up General Petraeus and the sucess of the surge in Iraq, Mitch McConnel displays his lousy command of history.
The surge "succeeded" simply because of bribery. We offered the insurgents guns and money, and they switched sides. The jury is still out on the success of the surge in Iraq because our money has fueled the ambitions of a number of chieftains who want more power and are willing to resort to any means to get it.
In a way I am surprised that I should be explaining this to Mitch McConnel. Let's look at his own record, one that any one can get through Center for Responsive Politics.
S enator Mitch McConnell gets $ 2 million in political campaign contributions from the health sector. He gets $ 1 million from lobbyists. His top political donor is Kindred Health Care. Among the other top 20 campaign donors are Humana Inc, Blue Cross, and GalaxoSmithKline. I might add that Humana practices something that Cheryl Tidwell, a Humana executive calls "controlling utilization." (Source David Sirota, from an article on the Huffington Post, August 28.) Controlling utilization is just another name for death panels, but the more people Humana kills, the more political campaign contributions for Mitch McConnel.
This of course is the big reason Mitch McConnel hates Obama, and it also explains the power of bribery.
Perhaps we can have similar success in bribing various warlords in Afghanistan. In any rate, if we are going to fight a war, it's time we reformed our tax structure to reflect wartime realities. We need to cancel all the tax cuts the rich got from the election of Reagan on and force the wealthy to pay at the same tax rate they paid during World War II.

I might also add that developing alternative sources of energy is a major part of our defense policy, just as developing substitutes for rubber was during World War II. And what about gasoline rationing? Will McConnell favor that.
Truth told, McConnel and the rich don't love this country.They love their money. They only love this country because they can rip off the public. Afghan warlords operate the same way, so maybe bribery is the best way to stabilize Iraq.

[Omni-Present101]

Clinton sent Troops to Bosnia and Spent Billions, 15 years Later, their about to Start a New War, based on the Old War.

These so called Nation Building Wars are costing Nation Trillions !!

Trillions we Owe communist-Socialist China.

We don't have the Time, Lives or Money to continue these Wars.

The FED is Printing Counterfeit Money.

We are in Debt.

Thank Bush-Cheney for the Generational Debt and Generational THEFT they left behind for Future Generations.


Some of You Talk Constantly about Generational Debt & Theft, but Omit these Two 8 Year Wars and Counting.

10-20 Billion Per Month to Communist-Socialist China, with Interest, for the Past 8 Years..

Generational Debt and Theft.

Don't Complain about the Economy or the lack of Jobs, or the Foreclosure Crisis, Thank Bush & Cheney.

[msimamaji]

How does Mitch McConnel know? Does he speak Pashto or Farsi? Does he even know what Pashto and Farsi are? Remember, McConnell also believed that Saddam Hussein was involved in al Qaeda. It's atounding that this idiot gets air time.

[gramto8]

From the article:
"[T]his is not just about nation building," McConnell told Schieffer. "This is about protecting the United States of America. We know that we can't have a haven over there for the reconstitution of al Qaeda."
__________
I wonder just where McConnell was when Bush took us away from Afghanistan and into Iraq. That is what allowed al Qaeda to reconstitute. That is what gave them their haven.

[Omni-Present101]

Was it Troublng to McConnell when the Sheiks of Anbar Decided to Fight Along Side Us, Before The Surge, Hmm

I believe It was called The [Anbar Awakening] Remember

[Ms_enza]

No, no, no... it's NOT "McConnell: Taliban, al Qaeda Connection"

It's "McConnell, Taliban, al Qaeda Connection"

[jxknowles]

So that's what we're paying Mitch McConnell $200K/year to do? I wonder how many other Americans would like his job, with healthcare benefits.

[tlwinslow]

This shows how full the West is of Islam history ignoramuses. Face it, either catch up with the history of the rise and 1400-year horror show now or later, what will it be? Never fear, you can now learn it fast accurate and free from the Historyscoper. Google "Quick History of Islam by the Historyscoper".

[bill0bob]

"They hide and use different monikors, sites, addresses and rarely share personnel; but they are all one and the same." -- John_Merritt

Got any FACTS to back that up with, or did you just make that up to fit your own paranoid delusions?

[nextgenman09]

McConnell is a nutbag. Always has been.

[sjc_1]

McConnell is a sleaze bag. He will say anything to further the cause of the GOP. He seems to lack a conscience and thus may even lack a soul. He does not really care about the country, but political power and his party regaining power, that is all.

[stuart-johns2]

Well if Pakistan is such a good ally they won't mind dis-arming all their nuclear weapons have having them transported out of their country until such time as Pakistan can effectively secure their borders against the terrorists.

Simple solution to massive problem. No nation should be allowed to have nuclear weapons it cannot protect.

[ToolMangler1]

by pigsinlipstick October 11, 2009 1:54 PM EDT
"YESAH, RIGHT , BUT WE SHOULD HAVE THEM BECAUSE WE ARE SO GOOD AND GREAT?
WHAT A CROCK,
WE SHOULD DISARM FIRST, THE N SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT DO IT
I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE PAKISTAN WITH A NUKE THEN ANY
OF THE SENATE REPUBLI'CON's "



That statement just showed how much better 'even' the repugs are than you are!!!
You appear to work directly for Al Qaeda because you always try to further their intrests (Go home) (disarm America) (Give Nukes to Bin Ladin) and divide our country so they can overcome it more easily.

[John_Merritt]

I understand it is just that everybody needs a name. The Los Angeles Dodgers have farm teams through the US. Al Queda has 'farm teams' throughout the landscape of this earth. They hide and use different monikors, sites, addresses and rarely share personnel; but they are all one and the same.

They use a VERY broad brush to paint deception so they can go unnoticed and to avoid political upheaval or objection in the territories they surround. They all have one master and that goes by the name of EVIL.

I say let them come and get us because I know for a fact they will not kill 5-10,000 of our soldiers here within the boundaries of this country, and if and when they move; we (the world community) will target them. I am talking about every nation who wants the best for all people.

We have come too far to allow wandering nomads with no hope dictate a course of policy for the entire world community. And if they want to meet us in our backyard, they won't even get through the door, let alone the backyard.

In other words, my meassage to them "Take your best shot, because it will be your last".

[ToolMangler1]

by John_Merritt October 11, 2009 12:40 PM EDT
"We have come too far to allow wandering nomads with no hope dictate a course of policy for the entire world community."



I agree with a large portion of your comment, but herein lies my disagreement.

Al Qaeda and the Taliban are as you say, different names for the same organization. But they are 'not' wandering Nomads. They 'are' a dedicated organization that is using religious 'fundamentalism' and rhetoric coupled with a portrayal of the rest of the world as "Anti-Islam" 'ergo' merely non-Muslim, living matter that must be eliminated if it cannot be 'assimilated'.
They will use every possible way to decieve the 'Infidel' including Lying, deceitful practices (no holds barred) murder and genocide, Because they consider 4/5 of the Earths population as 'dung'.

Because of their view of us, this has turned into a "world against Islam" thing in their eyes. They therefore will wage a "To the death fight" that may even finally involve nukes.
I hope and pray that I am 'wrong'..

[sjc_1]

This is NOT news, for years when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan they allowed al Qaeda to stay because they paid money to build roads. The Taliban wants Afghanistan with no trouble from Pakistan and al Qaeda wants the west out of the middle east, two different goals.

[BeckieBest]

McConnell was one of the very same right wing nuts who was running around screeching that Al Qaeda was connected to Iraq and WMD's while completely ignoring Afghanistan as it fell back into the hands of the Taliban.

Republicans have no credibility on this or any other issue.

[Omni-Present101]

Was it Troublng to McConnell when the Sheiks of Anbar Decided to Fight Along Side Us, Before The Surge, Hmm

I believe It was called The [Anbar Awakening] Remember

[HughAreWrong]

Some (but not all) Democrats are cowards and whres. They just are. They can't and won't learn from any mistake.

[Omni-Present101]

Clinton sent Troops to Bosnia and Spent Billions, 15 years Later, their about to Start a New War, based on the Old War.

These so called Nation Building Wars are costing Nation Trillions !!

Trillions we Owe communist-Socialist China.

We don't have the Time, Lives or Money to continue these Wars.

The FED is Printing Counterfeit Money.

We are in Debt.

Thank Bush-Cheney for the Generational Debt and Generational THEFT they left behind for Future Generations.


Some of You Talk Constantly about Generational Debt & Theft, but Omit these Two 8 Year Wars and Counting.

10-20 Billion Per Month to Communist-Socialist China, with Interest, for the Past 8 Years..

Generational Debt and Theft.

Don't Complain about the Economy or the lack of Jobs, or the Foreclosure Crisis, Thank Bush & Cheney.

[stn_sage]

Mr. McConnell has proved time and time again, that he doesn't know what he's talking about! I'm SO glad he's NOT from my state, I'd be embarrassed to have a representative like him who's so confused when it comes to the issues!

I'm waiting for him to claim that Al Qaeda and Castro have a secret plan to takeover America! He's a real snoozer, he puts me to sleep!