Can we negotiate with terrorists?

[teach1st]

For the sake of discussion, I'm going to make some assumptions here. Let's assume that there is still a bit of central authority binding those who fight using terrorist tactics - the al Qaeda authority, let's say. Let's further assume that they are fighting to achieve concrete objectives and/or in retaliation for what they perceive as political and military transgressions and not to propagate a worldwide holy war.

Given those assumptions, can we negotiate with the current terrorists? Can we have peace talks?

I know that conventional wisdom dictates that one never negotiates with terrorists, but that mind-set might reflect the terrorism of the eighties, with its hijackings and hostages. Times have changed. What about now?

If negotiations were deemed advantageous, how would they be accomplished?

[burrowowl]

1. It would be easier

to negotiate with al Qaeda than with Bu$hCo and nothing will happen with Bu$h and his maladministration in power.

[Booster]

2. I really don't think they are open for negotiations as long as we

are killing their people on their own soil for the reasons given by this administration. I certainly wouldn't negotiate with Bush over a parking space so I don't expect people who are living on top of Bush's oil would either.

[seabeyond]

3. i wouldnt negotiate with the terrorists. i would negotiate

with all of the muslim world to isolate the terrorists. not create hate for us with the muslim world allowing the terrorism to feed and grow

[ultraist]

4. good point, i agree

Negotiate with legit leaders NOT rogue terrorists.

Iraq is REALLY pissing them off. Yet another consequence of Bush's illegal and immoral war!

[teach1st]

5. Excellent point...N/T

[geek tragedy]

6. Terrorists like AQ should be marginalized, not legitimized through

negotiation. Reach out to moderates and build ties across civilizational lines, not the medieval monsters.

[Maestro]

7. Didn't Britain negotiate with the IRA?

I see no harm in trying to talk. At least we could call a temporary truce to all this random killing. It's making me sick.

[Wizard777]

8. Only in the pursuit of a surrender. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Ours or theirs?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Why not? We have a long record of it negotiating and supporting them.

Of course most of them were "our" terrorists. But, when it came to negotiating with "enemy" terrorists we had few qualms when it was thought politically expedient to do so, or when they had kicked our asses.