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Why we should take Osama's olive branch ,It's the first step in winning the peace
SFGate ^ | 01/29/06 | John Arquilla

Posted on 01/29/2006 9:15:24 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; binladen; leftistsucker; nevillechamberlain; obl; olivebranch; peaceinourtime; truce
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John Arquilla is professor of defense analysis at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. The views expressed are his alone. Contact us at insight@sfchronicle.com.
1 posted on 01/29/2006 9:15:27 AM PST by Pikamax
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To: Pikamax
Thank you for that trenchant analysis, Mr. Chamberlain. Now go to hell.

-ccm

2 posted on 01/29/2006 9:16:17 AM PST by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order)
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To: Pikamax

We should be grateful this idiot is not part of the Administration.

(Save this comment for the 2008 campaign.)


3 posted on 01/29/2006 9:17:39 AM PST by aculeus
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To: Pikamax
John Arquilla, grade A brainfart.

Sure, John, negotiate with terrorists...great idea. You go first. (These were the first people to generate hatred for anyone talking to the Iranians who could help free hostages.)

4 posted on 01/29/2006 9:17:46 AM PST by Recovering_Democrat ((I am SO glad to no longer be associated with the party of Dependence on Government!))
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To: Pikamax
So if bin Laden were to call off his dogs of war, it would be a very good thing

And if my aunt had any balls, she'd be my uncle.

5 posted on 01/29/2006 9:18:04 AM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Pikamax

John Boy voted for Kerry, right?


6 posted on 01/29/2006 9:18:15 AM PST by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: Pikamax

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

7 posted on 01/29/2006 9:18:41 AM PST by zarf (It's time for a college football playoff system.)
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To: ccmay

This man, like so many educated people, fails to understand the nature of evil.

Or the concept of jihad - rightly or wrongly- as interpreted by wahabbism.


8 posted on 01/29/2006 9:18:49 AM PST by DesignerChick
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To: Pikamax
That would mean terrorism won !
9 posted on 01/29/2006 9:19:08 AM PST by Steveone (Liberalism is a brain tumor!)
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To: Pikamax
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.

No sir, the moral imperative is to stand firm against and seek to destroy evil.

OBL is an evil man.

Seeking to make truce with evil is moral weakness and human fallacy.

10 posted on 01/29/2006 9:19:20 AM PST by A message
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To: Pikamax

Im surprised it took the appeasers this long to crawl out


11 posted on 01/29/2006 9:19:34 AM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: Pikamax

Excuse me, Mr. Arquilla? Just how do we negotiate a peace deal with a dead terrorist? *Smirk*


12 posted on 01/29/2006 9:20:02 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Pikamax
No way... some pansy-ass metro-sexual punk from LA-LA-Land wants to take it anally from Osama.

Shock I am... SHOCKED I SAY!!!
13 posted on 01/29/2006 9:20:07 AM PST by FreedomNeocon (I'm in no Al-Samood for this Shi'ite.)
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To: Pikamax
Sorry hard to write with tears of laughter .... what a colossal idiot (no offense to idiots).
14 posted on 01/29/2006 9:20:12 AM PST by svcw
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To: Pikamax

Someone is off of their meds.


15 posted on 01/29/2006 9:20:15 AM PST by Radix (Welcome home 3 ID!)
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To: aculeus
We should be grateful this idiot is not part of the Administration.

But I have no doubt the next democrat president will pick an idiot of like mind to be the next secretary of state.

16 posted on 01/29/2006 9:20:59 AM PST by demkicker (democrats and terrorists are familiar bedfellows)
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To: Pikamax

We pretty much had a truce with him before 9/11. He'd attack us. We wouldn't respond.

He'd like that again.

John Arquilla is a fool.


17 posted on 01/29/2006 9:21:30 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Pikamax

Better yet, we should surrender and put our heads on the chopping block to be beheaded, as Islam requires of infidels who don't embrace the death cult.


18 posted on 01/29/2006 9:22:15 AM PST by tomahawk
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To: Pikamax; rmlew; Clemenza

Peace in our time!
19 posted on 01/29/2006 9:22:49 AM PST by Paleo Conservative
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To: Pikamax

Let's put another Clinton back in the White House to show how we prefer inaction to terrorism.


20 posted on 01/29/2006 9:23:00 AM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (expell the fat arrogant carcasses of Congress)
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