Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why we should take Osama's olive branch ,It's the first step in winning the peace
SFGate ^ | 01/29/06 | John Arquilla

Posted on 01/29/2006 9:15:24 AM PST by Pikamax

Osama bin Laden's offer of a truce has sunk from sight without leaving a ripple, but it should have made waves.

When the audiotaped proposal was made 10 days ago, the White House dismissed it out of hand. That was a politically logical move, given the need to appear tough on terror at all times. An image of strength and determination may be particularly important in the months ahead because Republican Party leaders have put security issues at the heart of their 2006 congressional election campaign strategy.

But there are reasons why bin Laden's overture should be carefully weighed and thoughtfully debated.

The moral imperative that should drive us is a sincere desire to end the long suffering of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Official figures suggest that 30,000 innocent noncombatants have been killed since March 2003 in Iraq alone. Many respected sources believe that this figure is grossly underestimated.

So if bin Laden were to call off his dogs of war, it would be a very good thing, saving lives by removing major elements in the insurgencies in both countries. Such al Qaeda withdrawals would sharply reduce the need for our forces to remain in these sad lands.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; binladen; leftistsucker; nevillechamberlain; obl; olivebranch; peaceinourtime; truce
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-75 next last
To: Pikamax

First step in insuring massive civilian casualties ala The Battle of Britain, the invasion of Poland, et al.


41 posted on 01/29/2006 9:36:13 AM PST by TASMANIANRED (The Internet is the samizdat of liberty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

Mr. Arquilla has never heard the word 'hudna' before?


42 posted on 01/29/2006 9:38:51 AM PST by DCMB (Bless GWB and all our troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax
The way I understood it, here were the truce terms offered:

* The U.S. to withdraw from and abandon operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
* Al-Qaeda to reestablish control in Iraq and Afghanistan.
* In exchange for the above two points, Al-Qaeda will agree to halt all of its nonexistent attacks on American soil, and halt planning of future hypothetical attacks of same.
* This truce is to last until Al-Qaeda has rebuilt its infrastructure in Iraq and Afghanistan.
* Upon expiration as per the point above, Al-Qaeda may resume planning and executing attacks on American targets, and...um, the U.S. would have to retake Iraq and Afghanistan if they wanted to reestablish a presence there.

Sounds like a fair deal to me. We should thank our lucky stars that Al-Qaeda is in such a bad position that they have to offer such generous terms of surrender to us. /sarc

43 posted on 01/29/2006 9:42:40 AM PST by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

Send Jimmy Carter to negotiate with Osama. He would kidnap Carter and we would know Osama is not sincere.Its a win-win situation.


44 posted on 01/29/2006 9:43:02 AM PST by raj bhatia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

Does he mean like the peace that was offered to the Palis? It worked so well! *now removing tongue from cheek*


45 posted on 01/29/2006 9:44:45 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (If you think you know what's coming next....You don't know Jack.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

46 posted on 01/29/2006 9:45:10 AM PST by doug from upland (NEW YORK TIMES -- traitorous b*st*rds)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

nuts


47 posted on 01/29/2006 9:46:05 AM PST by LauraJean (sometimes I win sometimes I donate to the equine benevolent society)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: raj bhatia
Send Jimmy Carter to negotiate with Osama. He would kidnap Carter and we would know Osama is not sincere.Its a win-win situation.

Actually this sounds more like a job for a former swift boat commander. Know of any laying around that might like to see us negotiate with terrorists?

48 posted on 01/29/2006 9:46:23 AM PST by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

I agree. We should take his olive branch, shove it up his a$$ and parade his impaled, rotting carcass around in front of Al-Jazeera


49 posted on 01/29/2006 9:46:28 AM PST by RouxStir (Peaceful muslim...The Ultimate Oxymoron!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

Geez....Osama didn't offer to withdraw his forces!
He offered a truce if WE withdrew and let al Qaeda "rebuild" Iraq AND Afghanistan.

"Professor of Defense Analysis" my a##. And on the military payroll to boot.


50 posted on 01/29/2006 9:47:02 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

We can make the same deal with Al Qaeda (or Hamas, for that matter) that Britain made with the IRA.
If they renounce terror, lay down their arms, and join the political process, then we lose our excuse to kill them, no matter how much we'd like to exterminate every last one.


51 posted on 01/29/2006 9:49:05 AM PST by Ostlandr ( Hey! Where'd my tagline go?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax
John Arquilla is professor of defense analysis at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.


So...this guy is a defense analysis and he is saying we should accept truce?

Where did he take his tactical training?
What qualifies him to make that type of statement?

Treachery abounds.....?!?

I wouldn't have thought it would reside as a class professor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

A truce mind you professor?

Let me tell you what you can do with your truce, professor!

Professor, Sir, shove that truce suggestion where the sun does not penetrate!
52 posted on 01/29/2006 9:49:12 AM PST by no-to-illegals (Every illegal employed is an American out of work.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax
Dear John,

The adults are in charge of this.

You may now.....................

Image hosting by TinyPic

53 posted on 01/29/2006 9:49:22 AM PST by don-o
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

It was totally predictable that some addled leftist mind would start advocating a truce. We had a number of truces in Vietnam. They were used by North Vietnam to regroup and reinforce.


54 posted on 01/29/2006 9:52:36 AM PST by popdonnelly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax
The views expressed are his alone.

I should hope so.

55 posted on 01/29/2006 9:53:24 AM PST by Maceman (Fake but accurate -- and now double-sourced)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland
Ending the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq would reduce the huge strain imposed on the U.S. military, tying it down and seriously impairing its ability to respond swiftly to new crises, such as those that might arise on the Korean peninsula or elsewhere. .

Is he suggesting that we should drop fighting in the Middle East,and so we can start fighting in Korea?

56 posted on 01/29/2006 9:54:45 AM PST by lOKKI (You can ignore reality until it bites you in the ass.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax
Muslims have a very poor track record on living up to their end of such accords among each other let alone with non-believers.
57 posted on 01/29/2006 9:56:03 AM PST by Mike Darancette (Condimaniac)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

Beyond stupid.


58 posted on 01/29/2006 9:56:38 AM PST by Republican Wildcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

My tax dollars are paying this guy's salary? I want a refund.


59 posted on 01/29/2006 9:58:04 AM PST by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington (How long do we have to pretend that Democrats are patriots?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mike Darancette

Hell, They break truces with other Muslims. Why would they honor this one.
They are a Group of people who are without honor. The grave yeards are filled with people who thought they could trust Muslims.
Kill them all.....damn them to the hell they so right deserve.


60 posted on 01/29/2006 10:00:05 AM PST by Yorlik803 ( A moose once bit my sister.Mind you, an moose bite can be pretty nasty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-75 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson