Topic: Mullah Omar

The hosts highlight a verbal slip by Dana Perino on "The Five" where she nearly referred to Afghan contacts as "handlers." They observe that the "new" Taliban appears more media-savvy and disciplined than the previous generation under Mullah Omar, utilizing press conferences and social media.

Infighting has broken out within the Taliban following suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Mullah Omar. At the same time, there are efforts to re-emphasize the threat of Al-Qaeda to justify the continued use of military force authorizations.

The hosts discuss a documentary by filmmaker Adam Curtis and the confirmed death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar. Although the Afghan government recently announced his passing, reports indicate he actually died in a Pakistani hospital two years ago. The timing of the announcement is linked to ongoing peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Internal reports from Afghanistan suggest a generational rift within the Taliban, as a new, more radical commander reportedly "hacked to death" an envoy sent by the group's emir, Mullah Omar. The older generation of Taliban leaders, who have experience in diplomacy and governance, warn that the younger fighters are unwilling to negotiate with the U.S. The hosts find the brutal nature of the internal power struggle to be a form of "high comedy" amidst the ongoing war.

An article by CNN's Robin Oakley is analyzed for its use of the word "niggles" in reference to President Obama, which the hosts find to be a suspicious linguistic choice. They also critique a quote attributed to Mullah Omar about "watches and time," calling it a "Madison Avenue" fabrication. The segment explores how mainstream media uses subtle propaganda to shape perceptions of the President.