Why we should take Osama's olive branch ,It's the first step in winning the peace

SFGate ^ | 01/29/06 | John Arquilla

[Pikamax]

Osama bin Laden's offer of a truce has sunk from sight without leaving a ripple, but it should have made waves.

When the audiotaped proposal was made 10 days ago, the White House dismissed it out of hand. That was a politically logical move, given the need to appear tough on terror at all times. An image of strength and determination may be particularly important in the months ahead because Republican Party leaders have put security issues at the heart of their 2006 congressional election campaign strategy.

But there are reasons why bin Laden's overture should be carefully weighed and thoughtfully debated.

The moral imperative that should drive us is a sincere desire to end the long suffering of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Official figures suggest that 30,000 innocent noncombatants have been killed since March 2003 in Iraq alone. Many respected sources believe that this figure is grossly underestimated.

So if bin Laden were to call off his dogs of war, it would be a very good thing, saving lives by removing major elements in the insurgencies in both countries. Such al Qaeda withdrawals would sharply reduce the need for our forces to remain in these sad lands.

[TASMANIANRED]

First step in insuring massive civilian casualties ala The Battle of Britain, the invasion of Poland, et al.

[DCMB]

Mr. Arquilla has never heard the word 'hudna' before?

[Antonello]

The way I understood it, here were the truce terms offered:

* The U.S. to withdraw from and abandon operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
* Al-Qaeda to reestablish control in Iraq and Afghanistan.
* In exchange for the above two points, Al-Qaeda will agree to halt all of its nonexistent attacks on American soil, and halt planning of future hypothetical attacks of same.
* This truce is to last until Al-Qaeda has rebuilt its infrastructure in Iraq and Afghanistan.
* Upon expiration as per the point above, Al-Qaeda may resume planning and executing attacks on American targets, and...um, the U.S. would have to retake Iraq and Afghanistan if they wanted to reestablish a presence there.

Sounds like a fair deal to me. We should thank our lucky stars that Al-Qaeda is in such a bad position that they have to offer such generous terms of surrender to us. /sarc

[raj bhatia]

Send Jimmy Carter to negotiate with Osama. He would kidnap Carter and we would know Osama is not sincere.Its a win-win situation.

[DJ MacWoW]

Does he mean like the peace that was offered to the Palis? It worked so well! *now removing tongue from cheek*

[doug from upland]

[LauraJean]

nuts

[Antonello]

Send Jimmy Carter to negotiate with Osama. He would kidnap Carter and we would know Osama is not sincere.Its a win-win situation.

Actually this sounds more like a job for a former swift boat commander. Know of any laying around that might like to see us negotiate with terrorists?

[RouxStir]

I agree. We should take his olive branch, shove it up his a$$ and parade his impaled, rotting carcass around in front of Al-Jazeera

[silverleaf]

Geez....Osama didn't offer to withdraw his forces!
He offered a truce if WE withdrew and let al Qaeda "rebuild" Iraq AND Afghanistan.

"Professor of Defense Analysis" my a##. And on the military payroll to boot.

[Ostlandr]

We can make the same deal with Al Qaeda (or Hamas, for that matter) that Britain made with the IRA.
If they renounce terror, lay down their arms, and join the political process, then we lose our excuse to kill them, no matter how much we'd like to exterminate every last one.

[no-to-illegals]

John Arquilla is professor of defense analysis at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.


So...this guy is a defense analysis and he is saying we should accept truce?

Where did he take his tactical training?
What qualifies him to make that type of statement?

Treachery abounds.....?!?

I wouldn't have thought it would reside as a class professor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

A truce mind you professor?

Let me tell you what you can do with your truce, professor!

Professor, Sir, shove that truce suggestion where the sun does not penetrate!

[don-o]

Dear John,

The adults are in charge of this.

You may now.....................

[popdonnelly]

It was totally predictable that some addled leftist mind would start advocating a truce. We had a number of truces in Vietnam. They were used by North Vietnam to regroup and reinforce.

[Maceman]

The views expressed are his alone.

I should hope so.

[lOKKI]

Ending the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq would reduce the huge strain imposed on the U.S. military, tying it down and seriously impairing its ability to respond swiftly to new crises, such as those that might arise on the Korean peninsula or elsewhere. .

Is he suggesting that we should drop fighting in the Middle East,and so we can start fighting in Korea?

[Mike Darancette]

Muslims have a very poor track record on living up to their end of such accords among each other let alone with non-believers.

[Republican Wildcat]

Beyond stupid.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

My tax dollars are paying this guy's salary? I want a refund.

[Yorlik803]

Hell, They break truces with other Muslims. Why would they honor this one.
They are a Group of people who are without honor. The grave yeards are filled with people who thought they could trust Muslims.
Kill them all.....damn them to the hell they so right deserve.