Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Elijah

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.

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.

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.

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.