Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 31 May 2018
U.S. general says some Taliban interested in peace

By ROBERT BURNS succeed Nicholson.
AP National Security Writer While speaking hopefully of
WASHINGTON (AP) — peace prospects, Nicholson
Some elements of the also told reporters that
Taliban in Afghanistan U.S. rocket artillery struck
are showing interest in a gathering of Taliban
peace talks, the top U.S. commanders on May 24
commander in Kabul said in the Musa Qala district of
Wednesday, citing "off Helmand province, killing
stage" contacts involving "dozens." His spokesman,
what he described as mid- Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell,
and high-level leaders of said earlier that more than
the insurgency. 50 were killed but that an
"A number of channels of exact count has not yet
dialogue have opened been established.
up between the various Nicholson said the
stakeholders in the peace Taliban commanders had
process," Nicholson told assembled upon returning
reporters at the Pentagon. from the western province
Speaking from his office in of Farah, where their fighters
Kabul, Nicholson said he had attacked multiple
could not name names security checkpoints and
because the contacts briefly taken control of the
are being pursued A U.S. soldier arrives at the site of deadly attack on the interior ministry, in Kabul, Afghanistan, provincial city of the same
confidentially to improve Wednesday, May 30, 2018. name. Nicholson said 50
the chances of advancing Associated Press of these commanders had
toward actual peace talks. been tracked to Musa
"What you're seeing the course of the 17-year while acknowledging that reconciliation dialogue," Qala and targeted by U.S.
right now is a lot of the war in Afghanistan, only the Afghan security forces he said. "And, again, I don't rocket artillery.
diplomatic activity and to be disappointed. When are getting better training. want to go any further. My While saying the U.S. attack
dialogue is occurring off President Donald Trump Inside the Taliban, diplomatic colleagues are had disrupted the Taliban
the stage, and it's occurring announced last August Nicholson said, there is a the ones that are involved network in Helmand
at multiple levels," he said. that he was committing "robust dialogue" underway in this, and their ability to be province, including its
"So you see mid-level, to winning the war with a with regard to whether and successful depends in part drug trafficking, Nicholson
senior-level Taliban leaders revamped strategy, he said how to end the war. He upon the confidentiality stopped short of saying the
engaging with Afghans." the goal was to compel asserted there are "many of the process." Nicholson, killing of dozens of insurgent
He added that unspecified the Taliban — with help points of intersection" who has commanded commanders would have
international organizations, from Pakistan and other between Taliban and U.S. and coalition forces in a decisive impact on the
foreign governments and interested nations — to Afghan proposals for Afghanistan since March war. "I would not call it
other interested parties also seek peace. However, a pursuing peace. 2016, is due to leave his post strategic significance, but
are involved. U.S. government watchdog "This is what, you know, this summer. The Pentagon it definitely has a significant
U.S. officials have talked agency recently reported leads me to the conclusion on Tuesday announced local significance in terms
up the prospects for that it saw few signs that that there's tremendous that Trump nominated of the fight in southern
peace many times over this strategy was working, potential to advance the Army Lt. Gen. Scott Miller to Afghanistan," he said.q
Design to honor Sept. 11 rescue, recovery workers unveiled

By DEEPTI HAJELA to have been exposed to which officially ended on recognize the folks who the Survivor Tree, a Callery
NEW YORK (AP) — A toxins at the World Trade May 30, 2002. have died or are suffering pear tree that was severely
pathway flanked by six Center site, both on the The idea for the space who were exposed to damaged in the attack but
stones meant to symbolize day of 9/11 and during had been announced World Trade Center toxins nursed back to health and
strength and determination the months of recovery last year, with officials while working in lower replanted at the site.
will be added to the Sept. operations that followed," joined by former "The Daily Manhattan or called the The six stones will be placed
11 memorial site in lower Alice Greenwald, president Show" host Jon Stewart, community their home." alongside the pathway,
Manhattan to honor the and CEO of the National a board member of the The new space was pointing upward. In his
rescue and recovery Sept. 11 Memorial & museum who has been an designed by Michael Arad design statement, Arad
workers who toiled for Museum, said in a outspoken advocate for and Peter Walker, the men said, "these stones are
months at ground zero, statement. the Zadroga Act, which who came up with the rough and worn, and their
officials announced She added, "By integrating provides health benefits to concept for the reflecting angle suggests a forceful
Wednesday in unveiling the this meaningful public first responders who fell ill pools and surrounding trees resistance, an answer to
design concept. space at the memorial, after the attacks. that make up the Sept. 11 the violence that brought
The new dedicated we seek to recognize He said in his statement: memorial and plaza. them forth."
area will also serve as a all those for whom 9/11 "These men and women The pathway on the The plan for the area also
way to honor those who has remained an all-too- sacrificed themselves for southwest corner of the includes incorporating
became sick or died from present reality." the rest of us and have plaza will loosely be in the a text inscription to go
exposure to the toxins in the The announcement was spent years suffering and area of the ramp that was along with the stones that
environment after the twin on the day of the memorial dying because of it. We used to remove material will include steel from the
towers fell. and museum's annual have long owed it to them from the site during the original World Trade Center
"Hundreds of thousands commemoration of the to honor their contributions. grueling nine-month effort that visitors will be able to
of people are estimated rescue and recovery effort, It's also important for us to to clear it. It will end near touch.q