Yeah, it was. How in the world can there be “moderate Taliban?” Didn’t she see how they ruled when they were in power? They weren’t very moderate, they practiced an extreme form of Islam (even more extreme than Saudi Arabia). The Taliban aren’t going to stop fighting until they’re back in power.
Taliban insurgents reject a U.S. offer of “honorable reconciliation,” a top spokesman said on Wednesday, calling it a “lunatic idea” and saying the only way to end the war was to withdraw foreign troops.
[...]
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an international conference on Afghanistan on Tuesday that those members of the Taliban who abandoned extremism must be granted an “honorable form of reconciliation.”
“This matter was also raised in the past,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, referring to comments last month by Obama, who spoke of reaching out to moderate Taliban.
“They have to go and find the moderate Taliban, their leader and speak to them. This is a lunatic idea,” Mujahid said by telephone from an unknown location.
(via)



posted April 1, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Hillary was talking about Taliban fighters impressed (forced) into fighting. Guerilla armies often do this. Mujahid is blowing smoke since there is always a moderate element in any movement although he would be lunatic to admit it publicly.
posted April 1, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Keep in mind that the Taliban is not the same is Islam as a whole. “Going and finding” moderate “taliban” is not realistic – they’re not going to speak up – or face death.
Moderates who have been forced into the Taliban may come to us.
I fully understand that there are moderate (and even liberal) Muslims…but “moderate” Taliban is sort of like saying “religiously liberal” Amish. They may be there, but they’re not speaking up. (NOT saying the Amish are Taliban…only that there are about as many religious liberals among the Amish as there are moderates among the Taliban)
posted April 1, 2009 at 7:32 pm
MzEllen, you might be surprised that there are liberal Amish–who were excommunicated from the Amish you might see in Lancaster County over the issue of whether or not men should wear moustaches.
But Michelle, you’d even side with the Taliban if they oppose some Democrat you hate? Really?
posted April 1, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Lucifer be praised!
It is very hard to reach the general public to let them know about the joys of worshipping Lucifer. What Michelle does for us is to show the reality of being a Christian–and that makes our work so much easier. Thank you, Michelle! You are a true example of Christianity!
posted April 1, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Someone posted impersonating Douglas Green?
posted April 1, 2009 at 8:03 pm
D. Green – I have come to see that Michelle/MzEllen are so completely partisan that it gives the rest of us a wonderful prompt to write in rebuttal – it would be a shame for her to disappear. No thinking person would presume that Michelle speaks for WTS – besides she is only a student. Please continue to comment so that we might gain another perspective on Westminster Theological Seminary. Also what is your “obligation”?
posted April 1, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Moonshadow, there is little that some of these folks won’t stoop to in their hatred of Michele. My heart hurts for her.
Robert, at which point, they were excommunicated…no longer “Amish”. That was my point with the Taliban – if they leave, there are no longer “Taliban”. They may be “dead”, but no longer Taliban.
another bob, my guess is that the obliganion of “D. Green” is to continue to impersonate another person (thus violating the terms of agreement of beliefnet) and continuing to attempt to stifle dissent.
posted April 1, 2009 at 9:44 pm
my guess is that the obliganion of “D. Green”
I think he’s referring to reading her exegesis, due tomorrow.
TMI available online.
posted April 1, 2009 at 9:52 pm
My heart hurts for her.
Don’t worry about her.
Robert, at which point, they were excommunicated…no longer “Amish”.
Heh, thin ice. Always a question of “who left whom?” 1 John 2:19.
posted April 1, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I think he’s referring to reading her exegesis, due tomorrow.
If I’m right, the person posting is impersonating another person and isn’t here out of charity.
If the person really is D. Green, he’s incredibly unprofessional and should be reprimanded by his employer.
Don’t worry about her.
Bear one another’s burdens and all that…
Heh, thin ice. Always a question of “who left whom?” 1 John 2:19.
I think that the ones who control the governmental structure – the one who decided on the excommunication get to pick. It doesn’t mean they’re not “Christian”, but when you don’t believe what the rest of the organization believes and they kick you out…I think the right to call yourself by that name is sort of shot.
posted April 2, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Bear one another’s burdens and all that…
Yes, of course.
posted April 3, 2009 at 8:45 pm
“But Michelle, you’d even side with the Taliban if they oppose some Democrat you hate? Really?”
well, yeah. duh. they have a common enemy now.
another bob is right that there are moderates in every movement (except for the religious right).
posted April 3, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Anonymous Reincarnate…does saying a person should exercise caution when petting a rabid dog mean that you’re siding with the dog?
there are moderates in every movement (except for the religious right).
Including the religious right Muslims…does that include the “Taliban”?