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Reuters, file
Jalaluddin Haqqani (R), the Taliban's minister for tribal affairs, points to a map of Afghanistan while his son Naziruddin looks on in Islamabad in October, 2001. The Haqqani insurgent group is named after its patriarch and founder Jalaluddin Haqqani, who was a legendary anti-Soviet mujahideen commander in the 1980s. Back then he was admired by the Americans.
Senior members of the Haqqani network said that the United States' designation of the militant group as terrorists could endanger the life of an American soldier thought to be in their custody and jeopardize peace talks.
"The Obama administration and U.S. military commanders know that their soldier Bowe Bergdahl is in our possession," a Haqqani commander told NBC News in a telephone interview from an undisclosed location on Friday. "He is in our custody, but his government failed to make any sincere effort for his release, and now this new development could add to his woes."
AFP - Getty Images
This image grab from an undated video reportedly posted on the internet by Afghan militants on Dec. 25, 2009, allegedly shows U.S. soldier Bowe Robert Bergdahl, who was captured in Afghanistan around six months previously.
The Haqqanis, a Pashtun tribe with strongholds in southeastern Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan, have been blamed for an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and other high-profile assaults in Afghanistan. The group is also believed to be holding U.S. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured in 2009 in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, bordering Pakistan’s South Waziristan.
Members of the network say Bergdahl was handed over to the Taliban when a delegation of senior Taliban leaders began peace talks with the U.S. in Qatar in exchange for the top five Taliban commanders from Guantanamo Bay. After those talks failed, the Taliban sources told NBC News that Bergdahl was returned to the Haqqani network.
Report: US offers Taliban more for captive soldier
On Friday, U.S. officials announced that the Obama administration would formally designate the Haqqani network as a foreign terrorist organization. The move was part of a complicated political decision as the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan and pushes for a reconciliation pact to end more than a decade of warfare.
But the move would only undermine the United States' efforts in the region, one of the Haqqani commanders told NBC News.
NYT: White House backs listing Haqqani militant group as terrorists, officials say
"How (will) their talks with the Taliban bring peace to Afghanistan when they declared us terrorists?" the commander, who asked to remain anonymous, said. "It would further increase their hardship and they should wait for more losses in the coming days."
Even as the United States takes down al Qaida leaders, one of the most lethal threats to U.S. troops in Afghanistan is a terror network based in Pakistan that America's outgoing top military leader says is an arm of our so-called ally, Pakistan. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed a report to Congress saying the network met criteria for a terrorist designation on Friday, State Department officials told reporters.
'Frustrated' dad of kidnapped US soldier takes action
The Obama administration has been trying to coax Afghanistan's fighting groups into peace talks, offering the prospect of a Qatar-based political office for insurgents and even the transfer of several prisoners being held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Negotiations have been dormant for months, and the Haqqanis have been among the least interested in talking.
Designation by the State Department as a foreign terrorist organization would bring sanctions such as criminal penalties for anyone providing material support to the group and seizure of any assets in the United States.
The Haqqani commanders also told NBC News that they were part of the mainstream Afghan Taliban headed by Mulla Mohammad Omar and declaring them as a terrorist group would make it worse for the United States and its allies in in Afghanistan.
Rachel Maddow reports the breaking news of a video released by the Taliban which they claim is captured U.S. soldier Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl.
"We are fighters of Islam Emirate of Afghanistan led by our supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar," a senior commander said. "Our aim is to expel all the occupying forces from Afghanistan and install a purely Islamic government there."
The Pentagon welcomed the designation of the group as a terrorist group.
"The Haqqani Network represents a significant threat to U.S. national security and we will continue our aggressive military action against this threat," said George Little, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, in a statement. "These new group designations will build on our efforts to degrade the Network's capacity to carry out attacks, including affecting fundraising abilities, targeting them with our military and intelligence resources, and pressing Pakistan to take action."
The United States accuses Pakistan's intelligence agency of supporting the Haqqani network and using it as a proxy in Afghanistan to gain leverage against the growing influence of its archrival, India.
Pakistan denies the allegations.
Photos: Pakistan -- A nation in turmoil
A senior Pakistani foreign ministry official, who asked to remain nameless because of the sensitivity of the issue, both denied claims that Pakistan was working with the network and dismissed the designation.
"If we are sponsoring the Haqqanis, which we are not because they cause more problems for Pakistan than anyone else, then only will this new labeling equate to something," he told NBC News. "No responsible person has proven that we are directing them in any way. Obviously there are contacts, but the U.S. has contacts for the purposes of negotiations, etc. too with these guys."
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Leave a Comment:
If you do not want to be called a Terrorist organization maybe you should not be doing terrorist-like things? Like capturing prisoners and demanding stuff from their country? You have only yourselves to blame.
Geowil that sort of applies to the United States too, doesn't it and many other western countries. wouldn't you say. I would even go as far to say, don't try to put your will on others that want nothing to do with another countries way of life. It all goes back to elite, corporations, greed, political gofers and our young men and women in services used as pawns, that are expendable period.
No it does not apply to the U.S., a country you clearly despise by reading your comments.
Yes it does apply Doug, truth hurts doesnt it.
Doug it does apply to us as well. Gitmo should have been closed ages ago bu the Repubs refuse to allow it to happen because they will not allow Gitmo prisoners into our prison system or to stand trial where they will win their trials because of lack of evidence.
@Spot
I agree with you.
"All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting." ~George Orwell
Psst America NEVER listen to ANY of these UN Patriotic Or Nationalist Nicknamed TROLLS....For that is all they are...Corporate Trolls Out To Support The War Profiteers Trying To Start Another Not War Just To Drum Up a Few Billion Bucks More For Their Bosses On Wall Street!
A Million Dollar Missile Here a Million Dollar Missile There and Suddenly It Adds Up To 4.5 Trillion Dollars Wasted On Not Wars With bin NOBODY To Show For It!
Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Proof.....If You REALLY want to know what this is ALL ABOUT Watch This PBS Documentary And Think About What It Means To Be Truly American........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l-8PFk8j5I
Let US Demand an End To These Endless Not Wars For Banksters & Corporations Fun & Profits!
Wake up before it is too late for US.....I took an Oath to Protect & Defend the Constitution of the United Sates against All Enemies both Foreign and DOMESTIC!
I for one will NOT meekly be forced to live in the Coming Wall Street Created UN Controlled Gray State or be forced to eat their UN Corporate Soylent Green while being UN Educated or put into their UN Army Civilian Labor Camps.....For the already UN Educated......Google it.....UN Re-Educate Yourself for once.....just for "Giggles"!
No matter WHO the next Wall Street Puppet In Chief is this week.......
The time rapidly approaches when every American will have to decide either for their So Called Safety of Tyranny or to keep the Oath you have or will have to soon take!
Treason is Treason whether done to maintain Wall Streets "Safety" by Bailout Barry or Layoff Romney!
America......We may not have much of a choice left to US anymore but we can choose to Refuse To Reward ANY Corporate Owned Wall Street Corrupted Criminals....Refuse To Re-Elect ANY Incumbent in 2012.
If they are a Democratic Incumbent....Vote for the Republican!
If they are a Republican Incumbent....Vote for the Democratic!
That way we can get Rid of POMPUS Obama, Parrot Reid (as Majority Leader anyway) and the Big Boehner all gone at once in 2012!
Then let US send Obama, Bush & Cheney to the Hague for Not War Crimes in 2013!
"You are a slow learner, Winston."...."How can I help it? How can I help but see what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four."...."Sometimes, Winston..... Sometimes they are five..... Sometimes they are three..... Sometimes they are all of them at once..... You must try harder..... It is not easy to become sane." ~ George Orwell, 1984
You must be smoking some powerful sh*t!
Right....And Out Comes The Nasty Little Macho Nicknamed One Line Computer Generated Corporate Controlled Sock Puppet Spewing Its Nonsense Once Again In A Vain Attempt to Belittle The Truth!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockpuppet_%28Internet%29
A sockpuppet is an online identity used for purposes of deception.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-operation-social-networks
US spy operation that manipulates social media...Military's 'sock puppet' software creates fake online identities to spread pro-American propaganda
Wake up before it is too late for US.....I took an Oath to Protect & Defend the Constitution of the United Sates against All Enemies both Foreign and DOMESTIC
It's looking like some one is going to be saying it. A lot of you better pay attention. Follow this situation closely. I'm not in the military any more, so your going to have to save you own butts. Yes, the only way this going to work is to reinstate the Draft. And Romney being a Draft Dodger would be the first one to do it to you.
That's the way things go.
Oh Now Old Six Dogs You Do Realize That The Oath To The Constitution Of The United States Has No Time Limit or Active Duty Status Requirements Attached To It.....Don't you?
So Are You An Oath Keeper Or an Oath Breaker?
Never Mind I pretty much know your answer from you Previous Posts Supporting Odumba's Corporate Not Wars for Fun & Profit At The Expend Of Our Children's Blood & Treasure!
"The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human." ~ George Orwell
Simple MUW, Discharged means just that end of story. If it doesn't then I want my backpay. Are your and others ready to cough it up.
No Spot I expect your kind to roll over and stick out you hand to the nearest Wall Street Overlord handing out their Soylent Green Samples and Willing March into Their Gray State!
Personally I want my grandchildren to live in at least and free of a country as I Have had. With the Corporate Governments Endless War On Terrorizing America I fear that is no longer possible.
Still I know I am an Oath Keeper and Not An Oath Breaker. If and when the the day comes if I am Ninety and in a wheel chair I will Obey the Requirement to Defend The Constitution of the United States Against All Enemies Both Foreign or Domestic as I swore I would when I was Seventeen.
“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” ~George Orwell, Animal Farm
Psst The Pigs Are Those Who Break Or Have Broken Their Oath To Our Constitution!
Make a deal for the guy already.
We're leaving in 2014 anyway. We've already admitted there's nothing in Afghanistan worth the life of one more Of America's best and bravest.
Bring him home safe.
I'm sure that that's want they want to do but the other guys don't seam to want to talk. They are playing that old song and dance the North Vietnamese did. So if you got a decient Idea, let's hear it.
Give them the five they want. It's going to happen anyway.
I thought i was plain in my first post.
wow. if our congress won't get that young man back and obama sits on his ass and does nothing, that will say alot for this country. but with obama being a muslim do we really think he'll do anything. get the young man back peacefully or send a have a nice day bomb up their ass
Caption says: "The Haqqani insurgent group is named after its patriarch and founder Jalaluddin Haqqani, who was a legendary anti-Soviet mujahideen commander in the 1980s. Back then he was admired by the Americans."
This should read : The Haqqani insurgent group is named after its patriarch and founder Jalaluddin Haqqani, who was a legendary anti-Soviet mujahideen commander in the 1980s. Back then he and Bin Laden were trained and armed by the American CIA. When we screwed them over, they got mad enough to attack us. Perhaps we should mind our own business from now on.
How did we screw them over exactly?
We didn't leave them enough cosmetics and lingerie for their beautiful camels and goats. That's how. The camels and goats, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief. See? There's an answer for everything, and the more ridiculous it is, the more likely it is true.
The US always complicates things by being a bully. They are fighting in their country for what they want, and we are in the middle expecting to be exempt from violent actions. Yes, we are trying to get out of there, and they should take that into consideration before they take hostages. But adding fuel to the fire by labeling them terrorists is not going to work. To the US, it's probably just a legal definition allowing us to take action against them when problems occur, but to them, it's very personal. They don't see themselves as terrorists. They see it as a fight for what they believe....by whatever means needed. We don't have constructive dialogue with them....we don't help them achieve the goals they seek....we are in their country...and they are not a recognized military entity of the state...but they are fighting....therefore, they are terrorists...NOT good....not good at all. We fought for our independence in the US against England...at the time, WE could have been labeled terrorists...We dropped 2 atomic bombs on civilian cities in Japan...we ARE and Were the ONLY nuclear terrorists EVER...We need to step back and look at this situation before more bad things happen because good intentions aren't always equallly beneficial to all parties involved. Stop labeling and start talking...there may be a simple solution that is not evident because the right questions were not asked...
He been a prisoner since 2009, 3 years, I wonder why they have an interest in keeping a one and only prisoner alive. We are willing to give them 5 of their guys for him. than they break down on the arrangments? To what purpose are they after? I would ask if any one had any ideas, but i don't want to here the stupid replies.
Terrorists???? How dare you call us Terrorists!......If you call us terrorists again, we'll kill even more people!
Smash these ignorant, vicious scumbags.
Seriously ... doesn't it really piss you off that Obama is out campaiging, doing his fund raisers with the LA, heroin crowd, giving his speeches that are full or lies and BS, and meanwhile as Pres he has forgot about this poor fellow that will probably get shot or hung?? How would you feel toward Obama if you were Bowe's parents and Barry basically forgot about your son because he was too busy making sure he got his media attention?
Barry, you are the most narcasistic, egotisitical loser this country has seen. You don't care about the millions out of work, the debt that will crush future generations, the continued reliance on foreign oil, the elderly that will lose their homes in the housing mess. You don't seem to care that 70% of the people feel that they are worse off now than they were 4 years ago?? You are in la la land. Please, please ... just let it go and let someone else try to help straighten out the mess you've created. GO AWAY .... you just don't get it.
Just another bunch of foul-smelling, unshaven, turbaned and toothless cretins making the usual threats, because that is all they know how to do, aside from pretending to read the Koran because they are too illiterate to actually do so. There are dung beetles in the desert with greater intellectual capacity and more human compassion than these vomit-inducing and vile vermin.
Only problem-----dung beetles don't kill---these people do.
How about goat humping terrorists?
Billy goats pi$$ in their own beards cause the scent turns the ladies on...
Bet these terrorists do that too so they can have all the perty goats to themselves.
Seriously, grow up, stop screwing goats and let Sgt. Bergdahl go free as a gesture of peace and maybe someone will believe you're real men.
Why split hairs. They are attacking US and Coalition forces. It does not matter why. I feel sorry for the GI being held and his family. But the Haqqani network is brutal and they are murderers. They want to install the ridiculous law in Afghanistan, by any means. It is a law of cruel barbaric practice and humiliation. And anyone who believes in this type of law is misguided and weak minded.
How dare they call us terrorists! We'll chop this Americans head of for that!
We'll show you!
The timing of declaring Haqqani network make me sick to stomach. Barack Obama has used all his tricks, including taking full credit for assassination of Al Qaeda founder, Osama bin-Laden. Barack Obama takes full credit for his secret war against Iran's so called atom bomb making, underground and overground factories with Israel. Assassinations for CIA, is the most commonly available practice. This time, it was some hired goons, by Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu and his own terrorist squad, Mossad. who spearheaded the "Stuxnet mess and assassinating, in the busy traffic, of the Iran (nuclear) scientists, in broad daylight by passing gun toting bike riding persons.
My point is that Barack is taking advantage of his executive powers for his partisan political gain.
He managed to selectively leaked state secret missions, previously. Now being talked about and investigated. Republicans are making it sure about his lapses and self serving public disclosures.
Enough said.
...and I am Sid Harth@mysistereileen.com
If you towel heads aren't terrorists, just what the hell are you? Check whatever dictionary you use to get the definition of "terrorist"; I think you'll find you fit it to a "T". Here are a few synonyms, pick one:..
fanatic; revolutionary, radical,insurgent, guerrilla, anarchist, freedom fighter; bomber, gunman, assassin
Jalaluddin Haqqani the legendary anti-Soviet mujahideen commander in the 1980s. Back then he was admired by the Americans.
Perhaps only the gay ones.
I already knew before reading the comments section that liberals would of course be supporting our enemies. Liberals and muslims get along very well because they share a common hatred, hatred for the U.S.
Intolerance and blaming the U.S. for islamic terror is what unites liberals and muslims.
Have you completely lost your mind or simply misplaced it? What the hell are you suggesting when you say "liberals" support the enemy? Can you explain such a moronic statement or don't you have the mental gymnastics to reply?
You libs support the enemy by electing Obama, by not calling them terrorists, by using dialog instead of bullets, by harnessing our troops response and combat actions, by your president bowing to a Muslim, by pacifying the terrorists in Gitmo, and generally treating them as human, by stopping water-boarding, and finally by your President speaking in Arabic when citing the Koran and calling it the most beautiful words he has ever heard. Yes, I would say that's supporting the enemy.
And its sad people like you two were permitted to develop instead of the sheets being washed.
They are terrorist. They are holding a another person hostage and threatening the U.S. That is what terrorists do. They just proved it with their statement.
What do they think makes them terrorist in the first place? Idiots! Now start bombing them! Does this mean we won't be having tea parties with them?
odumbo is responsible for this soldier, if he would only do one thing in his term, free this young man and blow those ragheads back to the stone age
Billirubin got it backwards as usual. Endangering the American POW will cause drone missiles to detonate just as he is sitting on his throne.
Oh, that's just great! Thanks so much President Obama.
Terrorists have feelings too!
If they kill him, kill every one of the piles of poop at Gitmo. make the deaths agonizingly painful and post it for all these pigs to see.
BHARAT aka India is NOT arch-rival of anybody.
Bharat has more Pakistanis in India than in Pakistan.
The STUPID media should stop this-YES Pakis think everybody are arch-rival of PAkiplace including the TV & PRINT misquotters.
STOP ARCH RIVAL CRAP. A dangerois one.
I know, we can send all the religious nuts from around the world to a spooky mysterious island and let them fight to the death. Not only will we get Christian nuts out of America but also Islamic cookoos out of the Mid-east.