No Negotiation Redux

Reader Stephen Downes writes in the comments:

It may be true that there can be no negotiation with fanatical terrorists.

But it doesn't follow from this that there can be no negotiation with anyone.

This was Bush's mistake - "You're either for us or against us." He lumped everyone who did not agree with him into the class of the 'terrorist' who cannot and will not negotiate.

I believe you are mixing your context. The President was speaking to nation-states when issuing this challenge. A nation can either help in rooting out Islamic fascists or they can aid the Islamic fascists.

If a nation helps in eliminating Islamic fascists then they are with us, if not then they are aiding Islamic fascists and thereby against us.

You are making the same mistake. You have taken a need to combat fanatics into a much wider crusade to propogate your 'way of life'.

If you make half, or three quarters, of the world your enemy, you will never be able to find, much less combat, the 0.01 percent with whom there can be no negotiation.

I am sorry, but you can not negotiate with nations who harbor and aid Islamic fascists whose stated goal is to eliminate the West and specifically the United States.

War has as it's goal eliminating your opponents ability to effectively wage war against you. The only way to do this is to eliminate your enemy's logistical support; their means of training and supply.

Any nation which supplies logistical support for our enemy is a legitimate target and by being such, is against us.

With regards to "our way of life" remember, we are speaking of economic and political freedom as opposed to it's opposite. Is it your contention that people prefer dictatorships?

The *only* way to win such a way is to proceed through negotiation, because only by trying to negotiate can you find those who won't.

I do not believe we disagree. However when negotiation fails, then it is time to take the next step. There is no negotiation on matters such as these without the threat of force.

And that threat must be credible.

He's a radio receiver
Tuned to factories and farms
He's a writer and arranger
And a young boy bearing arms

He's got a problem with his power
With weapons on patrol
He's got to walk a fine line
And keep his self-control

Trying to save the day for the Old World Man
Trying to pave the way for the Third World Man

-Rush