Bin Laden files show al-Qaida and Taliban leaders in close contact

[limpyhobbler]

- Blow to Afghan peace hopes as documents reveal Bin Laden, Zawahiri and Omar discussed joint operations against Nato

Documents found in the house where Osama bin Laden was killed a year ago show a close working relationship between top al-Qaida leaders and Mullah Omar, the overall commander of the Taliban, including frequent discussions of joint operations against Nato forces in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and targets in Pakistan.

The communications show a three-way conversation between Bin Laden, his then deputy Ayman Zawahiri and Omar, who is believed to have been in Pakistan since fleeing Afghanistan after the collapse of his regime in 2001.

They indicate a "very considerable degree of ideological convergence", a Washington-based source familiar with the documents told the Guardian.

The news will undermine hopes of a negotiated peace in Afghanistan, where the key debate among analysts and policymakers is whether the Taliban – seen by many as following an Afghan nationalist agenda – might once again offer a safe haven to al-Qaida or like-minded militants, or whether they can be persuaded to renounce terrorism.
...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/29/bin-laden-al-qaida-taliban-contact

[leveymg]

1. That was likely at least a five or six-way conversation,

Last edited Sun Apr 29, 2012, 04:29 PM - Edit history (1)

if you count the calls from the Taliban and bin Laden to the ISI, from ISI to KSA for funding, and the monitoring by the NSA.

Like a small town party line. One ringy-dingy, two ringy-dingies . . .