Gates Acknowledges Talks with Taliban

“We have said all along that a political outcome is the way most of the wars end,” Mr. Gates said. “The question is when and if they are ready to talk seriously.”

Good luck with that Mr Gates.
The Taliban are so delusional they always believe they are winning, you can't talk to these people because you don't know who you are talking to.
the last time this happened the people they were talking to did not represent the Taliban and everyone looked like idiots.
Well they will still all look like idiots, until they put a bigger effort into defeating the Taliban instead of talking about withdrawing troops.

The New York Times
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates acknowledged on Sunday that the United States had begun preliminary talks with members of the Taliban as part of an effort to end the war in Afghanistan.

But as he pressed his case against withdrawing a significant number of American troops from the region this year, he said that he did not believe the negotiations would produce any positive results unless the Taliban continued to feel military pressure through the end of the year.

In an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Mr. Gates cautioned that the talks were in such early stages — having begun a few weeks ago — that officials were still uncertain the Taliban participants were genuine representatives of the Taliban leader Mullah Omar. He said the effort was being carried out by American diplomats but did not directly involve the secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton. And he said several other countries were participating, though he did not specify which ones.

“We have said all along that a political outcome is the way most of the wars end,” Mr. Gates said. “The question is when and if they are ready to talk seriously.”

Referring to his concerns about drawing down too many American troops this summer, he added, “Real reconciliation talks are not likely to be able to make substantive headway until at least this winter. I think the Taliban have to feel themselves under military pressure and begin to believe they can’t win before they are willing to have a serious conversation.”

Gates pledges nuclear umbrella to counter N.Korea

A Nuclear Umbrella , Sounds so nice .
A Nuclear deterrent used to stand for something , nowadays it is nothing , an empty threat , When coming from a western country , When Countries like North Korea throw the N word around , they mean Business .
Coming from the U.S. it is almost laughable , If the Norks were fully Nuke capable and even launched them toward the U.S. , We would all be fried puppies before this lame ass administration Could lift a finger to make a decision over what to do !

....
SEOUL, Oct 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that North Korea poses a threat to his country's allies in North Asia and promised to protect them under the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

Gates, on a visit to Seoul, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, said a day earlier the United States would never tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea, as Pyongyang in recent weeks has indicated it could return to stalled disarmament discussions. [ID:nN21495767].

"The United States will continue to provide extended deterrence using the full range of military capabilities including the nuclear umbrella to ensure ROK security," Gates said in a meeting with the South's defence chief. South Korea's official name is the Republic of Korea.

Clinton laid down a hard line as Washington weighs whether to hold bilateral talks with North Korea, a step it hopes will bring Pyongyang back to wider, six-party talks on ending its nuclear programmes in exchange for aid and better global standing.

Better Global Standing , WTF ?


North Korea began reaching out to long-time foes South Korea and the United States after it was hit by fresh U.N. sanctions for its nuclear test in May aimed at halting its overseas arms sales, which provide vital cash for the destitute state.

South Korean Defence Minister Kim Tae-young said it is too early to say whether reclusive North Korea was ready to engage seriously in nuclear diplomacy.

"Although, on the surface, there are signs of some change from North Korea, including its recent willingness to talk, in reality the unstable situation such as the nuclear programme and the military-first policy continues unchanged," Kim said.