Times of Trenton, nj.com

Friday, October 23, 2009 STAFF WRITER

PRINCETON BOROUGH --

The U.S. should withdraw all troops from Afghanistan and should begin to negotiate with the Taliban, the executive secretary for Human Rights and Justice with United Methodist Church Board of Global Ministries said in a speech Wednesday night at Princeton United Methodist Church.

"The Taliban are Afghans," said David Wildman. "They have a say and should have a say."

Wildman has been to Afghanistan four times since 2004. With President Obama considering a troop increase in the central Asian country, Wildman urged action by the audience.

"If there was ever a time to lift our voice for peace and for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, now is the time," said Wildman.

Wildman was especially vitriolic when discussing the continued influx of weapons into Afghanistan, lambasting American politicians and weapons makers.

"There are rarely huge political payoffs for voting for peace and against the military industrial complex," said Wildman.

He said that while thousands of troops have been committed to the region, Obama's "civilian surge" sent only 450 civilian officials.

Wildman also criticized the Karzai government in Kabul, saying any attempt at centralized government in Afghanistan was bound to fail. Instead, he called for the restoration of village elders.

He addressed the problem of women being excluded in the tribal councils.

"There are still chances for informal influences and pressures [by women]," said Wildman.

"Much of Afghan culture, like many cultures, doesn't understand equal rights," said Wildman. "It's not our place, militarily, to try to further women's rights."

Although the church is across the street from the Princeton University campus, few if any students were in the audience. The crowd skewed much older, with many retired town residents. Turnout, though, was stronger than expected -- organizers had to bring out extra folding chairs once all the original seats were taken