What? [blink blink, rubs eyes] Errr.. What?

Did I read this correctly?

The Afghan President Hamid Karzai has appealed to the Taliban to compete in national elections later this year.

I can picture it now: Karzai vs. bin Laden. Gosh, who would win? Do we want to know the answer?

I should add that this is the first sentence in a story titled "Karzai 'assassination attempt' foiled." Well, that's just great. Glad to know that everything's stable in Afghanistan.