We negotiate only when we believe that we can achieve better results negotiating than not negotiating. Negotiations are a means, not an end. They can be a good or a bad idea. I recalled that as I heard Israel criticized for not negotiating with Hamas or Hezbollah. What good can come from that?
Negotiations are frequently used as offensive weapons or subterfuge. The losing side calls for negotiations as a way to avoid defeat. Terrorists and revolutionaries use negotiations as a way to divide their enemies and create doubt among them. (Dictators and killers can be very charming, as Che and Fidel showed us, and let's not forget uncle Joe or that sweetie Mao) This is what Hamas or Hezbollah are doing now and they dupe plenty of people, the same sort that would have praised Stalin or hailed "peace in our time". Hamas and Hezbollah have stated that their goal is to destroy Israel. What concession can Israel make? Is there a point to negotiation or will better results be achieved w/o them until conditions change? If Israel’s existence is not something that Israel will negotiate away and if the stated goal of Hamas or Hezbollah is to destroy Israel, on what basis can they talk?
(There is also the problem of unequal or inappropriate negotiations. The obvious case of this is N. Korea’s demand for bilateral negotiations with the U.S. This is the principle of the hot potato. Someone throws a hot potato in your lap and if you work with it, it becomes your problem. A good negotiator does not accept other people’s hot potatoes.)
You cannot always achieve optimal results. Sometimes you just have a bad situation. Sometimes negotiations can improve that situation, sometimes not, and sometimes negotiations can make things worse. Negotiations with Saddam produced negative results. British and French negotiations with Hitler made the situation very much worse. Jews learned this lesson the hard way. Negotiation with people whose goal is to kill you and everyone related to you is not a good idea. Hitler stated his goal clearly in "Mein Kampf". Appologists said he didn't really mean it. Hamas and Hezbollah state their goal just as clearly. When will we learn to take such threats seriously?
I am disturbed by the threat of war in the Middle East. But let's be clear about who is responsible. It is Hamas and Hezbollah along with the Syrians and Iranians. We are faced with an ideology that uses terrorism as a preferred tactic. We are in the same boat as the Israelis. They just are closer to the storm.
2006-07-31 10:01:03 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in News & Events ➔ Current Events
I agree with your essay. People are falling subject to terrorist propoganda way too easily. They know how to play with the media using civilian casualties, and its working to their advantage.
2006-07-31 10:12:06 · answer #1 · answered by ZynyxL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason to negotiate is not to offer solice for one side or the other. It is to come to a conclusion to the fighting that doesn't involve further killing of innocents.
If we allow the killings to continue, things will only get worse, for everyone involved. Eventually, and I'm not sure how far off this eventuality is, Israel will drop a nuke. This will cause WW 3 without a doubt as Russia and Europe do not want nuclear warfare in their own back yards. Russia definately will join the war against Israel, and I don't think Europe will side with Israel if Israel decides to use a bomb. America will definately (if history is any indicator) join on Israel's side and we will have a war we may not be able to win on our hands. Even if we do win, we may win a world that is so war torn we can no longer survive as we have.
2006-07-31 10:14:46 · answer #2 · answered by John J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about this for a reason: Israel has steadfastly refused to return the occupied territories to it's rightful owners the Palestinians. Please dont tell me they gave back Gaza and Hamas continued the violence. Let them give it all back including dismantling the settlements which they continue to build on Palestinian lands and I think things could change. Wanting to be applauded for giving back Gaza but refusing to agree to give back everything they took in 1967 is like having a thief steal your car and expect you to get over it just because he gave you back one of the doors. Isreal must be more forthcoming if it wants peace as it claims to.
2006-07-31 10:18:45 · answer #3 · answered by king 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Terrorists are like cockroaches. Unless they are destroyed completely they will come back. It's nice to see an intelligent post for once.
2006-07-31 12:10:50 · answer #4 · answered by composertype 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree with you. These people are terrorist and you can't negotiate with them. They're a bunch of cowards hiding behind civilians.
2006-07-31 10:07:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
never agreed more!!! you are right!!!Israel has to get rid of the Hezbollah threat while they can!!
2006-07-31 10:12:02 · answer #6 · answered by flootzy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋