Clinton hints at US-Taliban team-up

[joeblow]

Clinton hints at US-Taliban team-up

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=1 ... =351020403


Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

The Obama administration is looking at whether it could work with some members of the Taliban in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says.

"We're in the midst of a very thorough analysis of our assumptions about how best to achieve our core goals of protecting our country, our interests and our friends and allies from the scourge of terrorism," Clinton told reporters on Thursday.

"We are looking at every possible question that can be raised... in order to determine the smartest approach for the president to adopt," she said.

The White House said on Thursday that the Taliban posed less of a threat to US security than al-Qaeda, raising speculation that US Presidnet Barack Obama may decide against a massive troop increase in Afghanistan.

Officials involved in Obama's intense Afghanistan policy review argue that al-Qaeda poses a grave danger to US interests and the US homeland, while the Taliban, though hostile to US forces in Afghanistan, do not.

The assessment is in sharp contrast with that of the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, who has asked for up to 40,000 more troops.

SG/MMN