Audacious

Karzai Reaches Out to Taliban Chief

Says he would guarantee Omar's security if he is willing to talk.

The Washington Post today buries an interesting report from Afghanistan: President Hamid Karzai has said he would guarantee the security of Taliban chief Mohammad Omar if he decides to enter talks. This move is likely to rankle the international community, which will want Omar handed over to the United States, but Karzai was defiant. "If I say I want protection for Mullah Omar, the international community has two choices: Remove me or leave," he said. The United States has recently considered negotiations with moderate Taliban leaders, but Omar is in not a moderate. He refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden after September 11, and the U.S. has offered a multimillion dollar reward for his capture. He is believed to be in Pakistan.