Oct 27th, 2008 | survey

Should we talk with our enemies?


Are McCain and Palin correct that America should stonewall its foes? I lived this issue for 27 years as a career diplomat, serving both Republican and Democratic administrations. Maybe that's why I've been struggling to find the real wisdom and logic in this Republican assault against Obama. I'll bet that a poll of senior diplomats who have served presidents from Carter to Bush would reveal an overwhelming majority who agree with the following position: of course we should talk to difficult adversaries—when it is in our interest and at a time of our choosing.

The more challenging and pertinent question, especially for the McCain-Palin ticket, is the reverse: Is it really smart to declare we will never talk to such leaders? Is it really in our long-term national interest to shut ourselves off from one of the most important and powerful states in the Middle East—Iran—or one of our major suppliers of oil, Venezuela?  More:

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http://www.newsweek.com/id/165650



Should we talk with our enemies?


34 votes, 138 views , 14 comments
 
 

 
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Comments (14)
Macbrock
(Reply)
Florida, United States

posted Oct 31st, 2008 at 05:36 CDT

hmmmm...you left out dancing, the most important?

Officeshrew
(Reply)
Alabama, United States

posted Oct 30th, 2008 at 11:04 CDT

diplomacy is ALWAYS the first option...even bush and rice have said that....how many times had we tried with saddam? way too many....not to mention there were already several sanctions in place that were not working...

Officeshrew
(Reply)
Alabama, United States

posted Oct 30th, 2008 at 11:02 CDT

almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades

Philgtaylor
(Reply)
Australia

posted Oct 30th, 2008 at 04:33 CDT

ah, yes, pre WWI isolationism. The US relies on massive imports of foreign oil, not to mention massive quantities of imports and exports. The industries that rely on these would grind to a halt within a week if you got your way.

Philgtaylor
(Reply)
Australia

posted Oct 30th, 2008 at 04:31 CDT

But he has always wanted to be president.

Macbrock
(Reply)
Florida, United States

posted Oct 29th, 2008 at 23:26 CDT

I didn't say or imply Presidents talking to other heads of states, just DIPLOMACY in general dialog. Bush being the follower of Obama's advice, yesterday plans to open up talks with the Taliban! How convenient in the last 60 days of office to start now, while McCain says WTF is going on now?  LOL

Officeshrew
(Reply)
Alabama, United States

posted Oct 29th, 2008 at 14:44 CDT

was he president? no

Bmccue7
(Reply)
Georgia, United States

posted Oct 28th, 2008 at 17:04 CDT

McCain met Pinochet without preconditions; did you know that? Didn't think so.

Djkindagardin
(Reply)
Rhode Island, United States

posted Oct 28th, 2008 at 12:24 CDT

Well it sort of depends, especially in the current circumstances which we find ourselves in. It has been a catch phrase of the allies in the "War on Terror" to never negotiate with terrorists, and while this can change from situation to situation I usually find myself in agreement with this conviction. However, among different circumstances I think that talking with the enemy can be a very good thing. Hey talking is better than fighting, right? Most people would have to agree with me on that, sane people anyway!

Officeshrew
(Reply)
Alabama, United States

posted Oct 28th, 2008 at 12:12 CDT

what makes you think it will be any different?...precondition s would be determined by country...not all preconditions would apply to all countries that we see as enimies...

Macbrock
(Reply)
Florida, United States

posted Oct 28th, 2008 at 10:22 CDT

That was then, this is now. What preconditions?

Macbrock
(Reply)
Florida, United States

posted Oct 28th, 2008 at 10:22 CDT

Spoken like a true isolationist. Xenophobic perhaps?

Officeshrew
(Reply)
Alabama, United States

posted Oct 28th, 2008 at 10:09 CDT

with preconditions....carter tried that with n. korea and it failed...

Ang
(Reply)
Texas, United States

posted Oct 28th, 2008 at 09:51 CDT

We should work on cutting ties with most countries that we deal with and just focus on our own country because most of them aren't capable of reasoning with anyone. The fact that America is worldly is actually pretty obnoxious.

 
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