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Frist Says Taliban Quote Was Out Of Context; America Will Never Negotiate With Terrorists

Senator Frist is making it known that the earlier reports from the AP were taken out of context.

I’m currently overseas visiting our troops in Afghanistan, but I wanted to take a moment to address an Associated Press story titled, “Frist: Taliban Should Be in Afghan Gov’t.” The story badly distorts my remarks and takes them out of context.

First of all, let me make something clear: The Taliban is a murderous band of terrorists who’ve oppressed the people of Afghanistan with their hateful ideology long enough. America’s overthrow of the Taliban and support for responsible, democratic governance in Afghanistan is a great accomplishment that should not and will not be reversed.

Having discussed the situation with commanders on the ground, I believe that we cannot stabilize Afghanistan purely through military means. Our counter-insurgency strategy must win hearts and minds and persuade moderate Islamists potentially sympathetic to the Taliban to accept the legitimacy of the Afghan national government and democratic political processes.
National reconciliation is a necessary and an urgent priority … but America will never negotiate with terrorists or support their entry into Afghanistan’s government.

Hat tip: MKH who says:

Well, that’s more like it, but dang, you can’t let that kind of headline get out a couple weeks before an election (or ever, if you want to keep the security cons who don’t cotton to the Republican Party on any other issues). It kinda smells of defeatism no matter how you slice it, which is why all of us got up in arms so quickly.

Hmmm…whatdaya know, the MSM taking a Republican out of context close to a mid-term election. Who would of thunk it?

Ace isn’t convinced.

The Statement… is what I expected. It’s not that he was misquoted, though he claims to be. It’s that he’s now adding more “context” and “nuance” to make you try to think that negotiating with Al Qaeda’s sponsors is a good idea:

I don’t think the Rottweiller will be won over by this one either.
Release The Hounds has the obvious question so many are bothered with.
Captain Ed as usual approaches things with the most restraint.
Macranger says to calm down too.
Dan Riehl has an interesting take as well.
Big time foot in mouth moment. What will the Republicans do next to ensure the loony left take control of things? God help us!

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Posted by Jay on October 2, 2006 5:05 pm

» Filed Under News, War On Terror

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6 Responses to “Frist Says Taliban Quote Was Out Of Context; America Will Never Negotiate With Terrorists”

  1. rottaiano on October 2nd, 2006 6:20 pm

    Our counter-insurgency strategy must win hearts and minds and persuade moderate Islamists potentially sympathetic to the Taliban to accept the legitimacy of the Afghan national government and democratic political processes

    let me ask a question: how can you be a “moderate” and still be sympathetic to ” a murderous band of terrorists…” ?

  2. Jay on October 2nd, 2006 6:42 pm

    Ric, I think that is the sticking question that is bothering so many.

  3. rottaiano on October 2nd, 2006 11:03 pm

    i’ve received comments from a representative of Sen. Frist’s PAC at my site (to the post “Bill Frist: Statesman and Appeaser”) explaining and clarifying the Senator’s remarks…check it out

  4. kerwin_brown on October 3rd, 2006 6:56 am

    I don’t knoe if the Taliban had any worse of a human right records than some of Allies. Take for instance China and Tiananmen Square.

  5. rottaiano on October 3rd, 2006 9:00 am

    kerwin: the difference is we aren’t inviting the Chinese government to participate in a new political process…

  6. kerwin_brown on October 3rd, 2006 10:14 am

    During the Vietnam War we invited the North Vietnam to participate in the process there. They turned us down and sent us home whining. In Iraq we did the same with Al Sadyr and he is now a big part of the sectarian violence there despite being part of the diplomatic process. I am not really sure why politicians think that becoming part of the diplomatic process will tame the wild beasts.

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