MORE ON MODERATE TALS - AT 11:29 A.M. ET: 

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban on Tuesday turned down as illogical U.S. President Barack Obama's bid to reach out to moderate elements of the insurgents, saying the exit of foreign troops was the only solution for ending the war...

..."This does not require any response or reaction for this is illogical," Qari Mohammad Yousuf, a purported spokesman for the insurgent group, told Reuters when asked if its top leader Mullah Mohammad Omar would make any comment about Obama's proposal.

"The Taliban are united, have one leader, one aim, one policy...I do not
know why they are talking about moderate Taliban and what it means?"

COMMENT:  You see, we insulted their culture by using a term they don't understand.  If only we'd sent in Code Pink first, this wouldn't have happened.  We're so insensitive.

March 11, 2009