[quidnunc]

FYI

[EGPWS]

Bush will have earlier issued a statement that, at this dangerous juncture in history, there can be no hint of a partisan divide on our nations' approach to the problem of terrorism; and that it is imperative that any proposal coming from the current administration will be backed one hundred percent by the opposition party.

Wakey, wakey, you've had a dream my friend!

[GeronL]

I read the article and still think the guy is delusional.

[Prime Choice]

So, in a nutshell, the only "solution" is to cave in to the terrorists and let them have free reign across an entire region that controls most of the world's oil supplies.

Fat chance.

[Qwinn]

That's pretty good, in fact *chuckle*

It's obviously nothing more than a mental exercise, but the question is, what coherent argument could even the most peaceful dove or committed liberal make to the logic here?

I know, I know. They feel no obligation whatsoever to make coherent arguments to defend their positions. But they can usually be baited into faking one. I really am curious how they'd attempt to argue this guy's point.

Qwinn

[cartoonistx]

Dear Mr. Harris. I have another modest proposal. I propose we NUKE MECCA and get this boil lanced for good. God knows how to sort things out, I believe!

[sixmil]

Didn't make it all the way through the proposal, but as long as we end up killing all of them, then I am for it.

[lainde]

bttt

[Tolik]

Lee Harris clear thoughts PING.  Please, let me know if you want or don't want to be pinged to Lee Harris articles.

His articles at the TechCentralStation are archived here: http://www2.techcentralstation.com/1051/searchauthor.jsp?Bioid=BIOHARRISLEE

If you want to bookmark his articles discussed at FR: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/k-leeharris/browse

[NHResident]

This approach cannot work for another reason familiar to anyone who has ever tried to refute a mind-number robot (or mASSachusetts liberal) with facts. ANY kind of rational negotiation of issues has to assume some level of rationality and good faith on both sides. There is and has been absolutely no evidence of such good faith on the part of any of the terrorists or terrorist organizations. They are NOT fighting for a settlement but for extermination of the other side.

[7thson]

Look at the end of the article and who publishes his books. Free Press - the same outfit that published Clarke's book. Controlled by Viacom. This is what he looks like -

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Why cant your post whole story instead of just a tease?

[An.American.Expatriate]

The ONLY point which can be effectively taken from this article is that IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to negotiate with terrorists - you either fight them or concede defeat.

The US has (finally) decided to fight them - the rest of the world (with a few exceptions) - has chosen to concede.

[CFC__VRWC]

First, they can reject the offer to negotiate their demands with the United States, in which case they will be announcing to the world that they have no genuine political demands to make, but are simply indulging in terrorism for the sake of terrorism. This may not be enough to disillusion the many apologists for terrorism in the West, but it certainly will stop them from attacking the United States for its failure to pursue a more conciliatory path.

If the terrorists couch the rejection in terms of "this offer is a sham, an arrogant and cynical attempt by Bush to cloak yet another imposition of American imperialism on Muslim culture", then that would provide enough of a fig leaf for the America haters of Europe and the Left to claim that the terrorists are standing on some kind of "principle", and allow them to support the barbarians. The media could (and would) then turn the story against us, highlighting the actions that Harris lays out beforehand that make Bush look weak on terror, all the while portraying the whole incident as more evidence of Bush's ineptitude and "unilateralism" (how dare he make this offer without securing UN approval!!) on terrorism and foreign policy.

Don't forget that the Islamists and the socialist appeasers are united by their utter, seething, blind hatred and rage for the United States, which they see as being responsible for ALL that is evil in the world. No matter what we propose, short of committing mass suicide, the Islamonazis, the Euroscum and the Left will always assume we have the worst of intentions. Even the mass suicide option wouldn't satisfy them - they'd whine about all the damage our bodies were doing to the environment.