Talking to al Qaeda? Don't rule it out, some say (MEGAHURL!)

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | Thu Sep 13 | Mark Trevelyan, Security Correspondent (lol)

[PreciousLiberty]

LONDON (Reuters) - Six years after the September 11 attacks, a few cautious voices are beginning to suggest the unthinkable -- maybe it is time to consider talking to al Qaeda.

The idea will revolt some people and raises obvious questions -- through what channels could such a dialogue take place and what would there be to negotiate?

But proponents say al Qaeda has established itself as a de facto power, whether the West likes it or not, and history shows militant movements are best neutralized by negotiation, not war.

"No insurgency or terrorism has been defeated by warfare or violence," former Anglican church envoy and hostage negotiator Terry Waite said in a debate on BBC World television.

"There are some rational players in al Qaeda but it also attracts the psychotic. We need to seek an entry point," said the Briton, himself a captive in Lebanon from 1987 to 1991.

Jan Egeland, a Norwegian who helped broker secret talks between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the 1990s and later, as a top U.N. official, dealt with warlords and guerrilla leaders from Colombia to Uganda, told Reuters: "I wouldn't rule out speaking to anybody, a priori."

He went on: "It depends on who you speak to, but also what you speak to them about. I'm willing to speak to the devil to help the victims in the depths of hell. If I could have a meeting with al Qaeda where one could impress upon them that they are the biggest anti-Islamic force around, why not?"

[76Tiger]

Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.

Winston Churchill

We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

Winston Churchill

[Cymbaline]

Sure, let’s talk. I can think of some things I’d say to Bin Laden - Just before I blew him away.

[The Great RJ]

Neville Chamberlain did talk to Hitler and even got an agreement signed ...classic appeasement that did nothing.

Terry Wait should know from his experience as a captive of Muslim extremists in Lebanon that they aren't interested in negotiating anything. The current crop of Islamic fascists have no intent to negotiate on anything but a total capitulation of Western civilization. We may laugh at Bin Laden's last message but it is wholly consistant with the mindset of the Muslim extremists...what they want is conversion of the whole world to Islam by whatever means necessary and the establishment of a global Islamic theocracy police state.

[eyedigress]

We talk to Al-Quaida everyday at Git-Mo. What more do they want? Sheesh.

[himno hero]

recognize them, talk with them?

then its like the palestainians, through those two steps you start legitimizing them. you give them REAL existence.

recognize them through crosshairs,

legitimize them with pb

[The_Media_never_lie]

Does this “Security Correspondent” have water on the brain?