Powell says Jackson visit would serve little purpose

Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell said Jesse Jackson would likely solve nothing by visiting Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia because the United States has nothing to negotiate.

"He is free to travel," Powell said Thursday. "I don't know what purpose would be served right now, since the position of the United States and the international community is quite clear."

Jackson is considering whether to lead a "peace delegation" to Taliban officials.

The Bush administration has demanded the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The Taliban, believed to be harboring bin Laden and his al-Qaida terrorist network, have refused to give him up.

The civil rights activist, minister and former presidential candidate said Thursday he is reluctant to make the trip.

But Jackson, speaking to reporters outside a northern Virginia high school, said he feels obligated to try to free two American humanitarian workers, jailed by the Taliban along with six other foreign relief workers on charges of preaching Christianity.

Jackson said he received a telegrammed invitation Wednesday from a Taliban spokesman to come to neighboring Pakistan to resolve the situation "in a way that preserves the dignity and integrity of all sides."

The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan reportedly said it was Jackson who first broached the idea, not the militia. The Afghan Islamic Press, a private news agency close to the Taliban, quoted Abdul Salam Zaeef as saying that Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar "has accepted his offer to mediate."

"It is not important how the contact was made, but that the contact was made," Jackson told CNN.

Jackson discussed the matter with Powell in two phone calls and also spoke with Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's national security adviser.

Several Bush administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House would urge Jackson not to make the trip. They worry it would be viewed as a U.S. attempt to negotiate with the Taliban and could fracture the growing but fragile international coalition against terrorism.

Jackson said the White House has not attempted to discourage him but that they could not stop him if he decides to go.

"Whatever role we can play as civilians, through the power of the people, to get those eight Christians released, we ought to do that," he said.

Jackson previously negotiated the freedom of American hostages in Syria, Cuba and Yugoslavia.