What You Won’t Learn From the NYT Op-Ed by the Taliban’s Deputy Leader

[TomSea]

What You Won’t Learn From the NYT Op-Ed by the Taliban’s Deputy Leader
The author is a designated terrorist closely allied with al-Qaeda. That's not mentioned. Neither is al-Qaeda.
Thomas Joscelyn
    Feb. 20

This morning, the New York Times published an op-ed   attributed to Sirajuddin Haqqani. Although Haqqani is described as the “deputy leader of the Taliban,” he is actually the deputy emir of the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The importance of that observation will become apparent below.



The author of the op-ed blames America for the war in Afghanistan, writing: “We did not choose our war with the foreign coalition led by the United States.” This ignores the Taliban’s role in harboring and assisting al-Qaeda in the years leading up to the 9/11 hijackings and thereafter. In fact, al-Qaeda is not named in the op-ed at all. It’s a telling omission: Sirajuddin’s own father helped cement the close relationship between the Taliban and Osama bin Laden’s outfit. A large body of evidence shows that Sirajuddin has continued in his father’s footsteps.

Who is Sirajuddin Haqqani? The Times doesn’t explain. Some basic facts are in order.

Continued at: https://vitalinterests.thedispatch.com/p/what-you-wont-learn-from-the-nyt

NY Times editorial:

Opinion
What We, the Taliban, Want

I am convinced that the killing and the maiming must stop, the deputy leader of the Taliban writes.

By Sirajuddin Haqqani

Mr. Haqqani is the deputy leader of the Taliban.
Feb. 20, 2020

When our representatives started negotiating with the United States in 2018, our confidence that the talks would yield results was close to zero. We did not trust American intentions after 18 years of war and several previous attempts at negotiation that had proved futile.

Nevertheless, we decided to try once more. The long war has exacted a terrible cost from everyone. We thought it unwise to dismiss any potential opportunity for peace no matter how meager the prospects of its success. For more than four decades, precious Afghan lives have been lost every day. Everyone has lost somebody they loved. Everyone is tired of war. I am convinced that the killing and the maiming must stop.

More: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/opinion/taliban-afghanistan-war-haqqani.html