Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Elijah

R.M.Paulraj

R.M.Paulraj — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The move by any extremist leader towards becoming a moderate political negotiator deserves appreciation and recognition by all. It is the best way to defeat terrorism.

Elijah

Elijah — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I agree, R.M.

I think the best way to defeat terrorists is to make them ”soft” and eventually convince them to abandon their violent ways, even if that means political concessions. At least these will be without bloodletting.

R.M.Paulraj

R.M.Paulraj — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I feel that there is a need for an apolitical organization outside the UN, consisting of people like us, to engage in dialogues with factions of extremist organizations that could be encouraged to open up for a process of political conciliation aimed at cooperation. Presently there is a void in this space, and things are left to government bodies.

Elijah

Elijah — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

This seems like a very good idea.

However, the task you described sounds very daunting. For instance, many governments have laws that prevent private individuals (or even organizations like the one you have in mind) from contacting extremists. Those who do risk trial or at least ostracism. If officials eventually decide to overlook the laws, they want to be the ones breaking it, in hope of political gain.

In the Middle East such endeavors are almost surely bound to be viewed as naive, arrogant and out of touch. There must be some other incentive that would make the talks more pragmatic — the idealistic liberal enlightened approach is just too much for the traditionalist region — like a business venture. I think that is why Germany’s low and mid rank officials are successful in negotiating between Israel and Lebanon: they have strong business connections and interests in Iran and among Shiite population.

R.M.Paulraj

R.M.Paulraj — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

True. Laws do prevent contacts between terrorists and ordinary citizens. These laws are a necessity too, for obvious reasons. But, people who have interests in the concerned countries - like the Germans who worked between Israel and Lebanon - can make a beginning in this direction.

Elijah

Elijah — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

That said, I have very little knowledge about how things might work in India, where I understand there are tensions between Muslim and Hindu populations.

R.M.Paulraj

R.M.Paulraj — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Terrorists are usually inaccessible to others, in whichever country they are. This is the case in India as well. But some terrorist organizations, both in India and elsewhere in the world, have a political wing or front that serves as an interface between them and the outside world.

Jessi Edwards

Jessi Edwards — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Well done on your article Elijah! I agree it is unusual timing, but eventually the time must come where one of the sides has to cede to each others wishes/demands/whatever you would like to call it...

I only wish that this swap goes as ”smoothly” as they say it will.