Clinton: U.S. would negotiate with Taliban leader
By CNN National Security Producer Jamie Crawford
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday the United States would be willing to negotiate with the leader of Afghanistan's Taliban if he met conditions that have been laid out.
Testifying at a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Clinton did not dismiss the prospect when asked by Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, whether reconciliation talks with the Taliban and other insurgents would include talking with Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
"You don't make peace with your friends," she said, speaking just days after concluding a weeklong trip that included stops in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
There first would have to be a demonstrated willingness on the Taliban's part to negotiate and to meet the conditions already laid out for joining negotiations, she said.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
THIS WILL SHOW THAT AMERICA IS WEAK IN THERE EYE'S, IF MULLAH OMAR REFUSED TO GIVE UP BIN LADEN WHAT MAKE THEM THINK THAT HE WILL NEGOTIATE NOW! HE ONLY HOLD HATE IN HIS HEART!!
No, this is beyond wrong. Should we negotiate with Mullah Omar, the man who refused to hand over usama bin laden? The man who allowed terrorists to train to attack America? Would she have negotiated with Hirohito? How about Hitler?