If You Were The President, Would You Negotiate With Terrorists?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Seeing as how terrorism has taken on a new form than what we previously thought of it as, maybe it's time to reshash the old argument about not negotiating with terrorists.

I can see the point of not negotiating with terrorists when all terrorists do is kidnap a few people and ransom them off.

But terrorists who blow themselves up are a different breed. Maybe negotiating with them wouldn't be such a bad idea.

I mean, hell, Bush did.

In stating his reasons for attacking the US on 911, Osama said he wanted the US out of Saudi Arabia, the US sanctions against Iraq to end and to help spur a great anti-American movement across the Middle East.

Well, Bush pulled the bases out of Saudi Arabia. Ended the sanctions against Iraq and helped spur on that movement. Of course, he had to start a totally reckless war to do it. But those are just details.

Bush gave Osama everything he wanted. For all intents and purposes he did negotiate with him.

Now why can't we just do this with money instead of bombs. Surely it must cost less to pay off terrorists than it does to fight them.

So what would you do if you were president? Negotiate with terrorists or fight them head-on?

[Dead_Parrot]

1. Ever heard of a Swiss hostage?

They don't fight, and they don't negotiate: They just avoid being on anyone's list in the first place, by simply not being arrogant SOB's.
The terrorists are usually making a statement when they chose a target: If the only statement they've got to make is "These guys are OK, really", you've got it sorted...

[foo_bar]

5. yes, they generally "negotiate"

Algeria:
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/20/hostages_algeria030820
Turkey:
http://www.ict.org.il/spotlight/det.cfm?id=600
Congo:
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/e/home/recent/press/07.html
Lebanon:
http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/terror_90/mideast.html
Sudan:
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Hornet/irin_32299c.html
Afghanistan:
http://www.hvk.org/articles/0100/20.html
Moscow:
http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/179266.htm
Colombia:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20030703_574.html

[Dead_Parrot]

6. Excuse me while I shoot myself...

LOL. I stand corrected, Foo_bar. How 'bout Luxumborg? (I still reckon the principle is sound!)

[Drifter]

9. You idiot ...

that makes too much sense. How can we conquer the world, if most of the people in the world like us?

In order to continue on our glorious pre-emptive defensive military operations, we need to piss-off a lot of people. What are YOU doing to realize this goal ?

</sarcasm>

Cheers
Drifter

[foo_bar]

14. you have to grease many palms to be "liked"

as the House o' Saud can attest. But Swiss hostages do tend to be released unharmed.

German television reported that Mali, which borders Algeria, paid the kidnappers a ransom of $7.8 million. In return, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands will provide the West African country with development aid.

[Dr Satan]

2. DO CEOS COUNT

as terrorists?

[Military Brat]

3. President Gore was never given a choice

But I suspect he would do some arm-twisting negotiation. It's all about saving face. I suspect OBL's demands have ratcheted since bush**'s pseudo "war on terrorism" began. There would be a lot of grief saved in this world if bush** had listened to the Hart-Rudman report. But then again, bush** can't read anything which contains too many polysyllabic words.

As for me, I always negotiate, unless I'm facing a madman. This is why we should never negotiate with bush**, Cheney, et al. They are backstabbers. Come to think of it, why would the terrorists even want to negotiate with them either?

[LeahMira]

10. You make a point...

As for me, I always negotiate, unless I'm facing a madman. This is why we should never negotiate with bush**, Cheney, et al. They are backstabbers. Come to think of it, why would the terrorists even want to negotiate with them either?

Y'know, I can't think of why they would either.

Meanwhile, though, the U.S. can work to create a world in which terrorist wannabees wouldn't be able to find recruits for their organizations. Discontented, frustrated people who feel as if they have no other options left are the people who join up with terrorist groups. Those are the ones we need to hear and negotiate with... before they turn to terrorism.

Now how hard could that be?

[JHB]

4. Only if my name were "Ronald Reagan" or "George Bush"...

nuff said

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Ronnie set the standard (lowered it actually)

he didn't follow Israel's lead which was categorically NOT to negotiate with hostage takers....
and the right wing neanderthals call him a hero. :eyes:

[camero]

8. I would negotiate

But we can't really promise 72 virgins...lol. Better to just change our energy policy to conservation and then we won't have to finance corrupt regimes. Like the House of Saud.

[info being]

11. Eliminate the conditions that cause organized terrorism

Do everything possible to win the hearts of the people in these countries so the terrorists lose support from their own people. Give 18 year old guys no reason to want to join one of these organizations. Listen to the real problems in these countries and communities and put pressure on their leaders to respond.

[hey2370]

12. Isn't this usually a straw-man?

If you don't want to negotiate with a party, you try to show that they have performed acts that can be protrayed as terrorist acts, then claim that your bedrock guiding principles prevent you from negotiating. After all, we negotiated (and negotiate) with plenty of regimes that have performed acts consistent with terrorism on their populace or upon other nations not favored by the US. This seems to fit with the "ones man's terrorist is another man's 'freedom fighter'" truism.

[Minstrel Boy]

13. First thing: stop committing state terrorism.

Second thing: disavow global conquest.

Third thing: treat "terrorism" as multilateral police matter.

Do you think the United States would be safer, or at greater risk?

[JackRiddler]

15. If I were president...

I'd already be the head terrorist! What's to negotiate?

Maybe the U.S. govt should stop sponsoring them!

[MrPrax]

16. Negotiate!!

Would it be so wrong in sending the Shah back to Iran to face trial?
What principle was being upheld in refusing?

Perhaps, sending a message to the 'people' of the world that ruthless dictators will be defended by their 'handlers' at even the cost of their own citizens' lives?

Or that international law and extradition treaties are not worth the paper they are written on if one arbitrarily decides what the RULES are to follow them...

Negotiating really depends on what is being demanded...

The 'never negotiate' position is simply one where elites don't want to consult and their own goverance requires fluidity...any attempt by anyone outside of the elite power to impose ultimatiums requires that innocent life be sacrificed to maintain this strict principle.

In fact, this is generally the principle the 'elites' take when dealing with their own non-hostages; bypass democracy and change the debate to the 'sanctity' of the principle itself or appeal to the higher calling/sacrifice. In short, what people want, will always be 'parsed' against what the 'elites' will grant.

Hostage-taking for political purposes is merely a crude version of this 'black market' trade in life anyhow

There really is not a great mystery to any of this...

[jokerman93]

17. Yes I would negotiate

First I would ask congress to grant me new executive powers to negotiate trade contracts with foreign powers.

Then I would immediately go to...Afghanistan (for example) and negotiate a lucrative contract to install an oil pipeline through Taliban controlled (tera'ist) terratory.

If they don't like the terms of the deal, then as an absolutely last resort, I would allow a terrorist event to happen in America, or at least use one that happens fortuitously, as an excuse to launch an overpowering military/CIA attack on the country. Once the Terrorists are out of power, I would then build my pipeline and guard it with my own personal American army.

Would I negotiate with terrorist? Of course! It's good for bidness!

*sarcasm off*