Karzai Confirms Taliban Talks

It's official: Hamid Karzai is talking to the Taliban in a last-ditch bid for peace. In an interview with CNN's Larry King set to air today, the Afghan leader says his government is engaged in "unofficial" discussion with Taliban reps. "We have been talking to the Taliban as countryman to countryman," he said. "Not as a regular official contact with the Taliban with a fixed address, but rather unofficial personal contacts have been going on for quite some time."

Striking a conciliatory tone, Karzai compared Afghan's Taliban fighters to runaway children. "Those of whom who are Afghans and the sons of Afghan soil, who have been driven to violence by various factors beyond their control...we want them to come back to their country." He also used the chance to refute Bob Woodward's claim he was 'off his meds.' He called the journalist's take "rather funny." (For the latest on the war, click here.)