Skip to comments.
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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-75 next last
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
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)
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
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!))
To: Pikamax
So if bin Laden were to call off his dogs of war, it would be a very good thingAnd 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.)
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)
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.)
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.
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!)
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.
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)
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.)
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.)
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
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!)
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)
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
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
To: Pikamax; rmlew; Clemenza
Peace in our time!
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)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-75 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson