Thread: Internet Securiity, Terrorism

Originally Posted by Eric C.

The first rule counter-terrorist forces have to learn is, once you've started to communicate with terrorists, you're defeated.

I disagree, I believe that all opportunities should be made to negotiate with terrorists because it weakens them and divides them.

If rebel/terrorist leaders have spent the last 10-20 years telling their recruits and their supporters that you are the devil, the great satan, the infidel, the worst thing ever to walk the Earth, and then they sit down at the table to talk with you, what does that say about them? The true believers, those who swallowed all of the propaganda over the years, may very well see it as a crass betrayal by old and tired leaders who want to cut a deal. Their supporters will also see it as a sign of weakness and a backing down from the revolutionary message.

Additionally, you can use peace talks to drive a wedge into a rebel movement and cause some to disarm, others to walk away completely, and others to form their own ultra radical groups with far fewer members than they had before. Think about what the British did with the IRA.

The talks don’t have to go anywhere… Offer terms that the elite/leaders cannot possibly accept but that many of their supporters would be willing and ready to accept, this will further alienate the leaders from their supporters. Simply negotiating doesn’t mean you will reach an agreement. In the end, you will have the moral high ground because you attempted to resolve things peacefully and they refused to accept a deal that the media will declare was reasonable and fair.



Always talk/negotiate with terrorists, always.

Originally Posted by OhioPatriot

If rebel/terrorist leaders have spent the last 10-20 years telling their recruits and their supporters that you are the devil, the great satan, the infidel, the worst thing ever to walk the Earth, and then they sit down at the table to talk with you, what does that say about them? The true believers, those who swallowed all of the propaganda over the years, may very well see it as a crass betrayal by old and tired leaders who want to cut a deal. Their supporters will also see it as a sign of weakness and a backing down from the revolutionary message.

That seems like an assumption that all terrorists are dumb
If that would be true then there would be no successful terrorist attacks whatsoever

Originally Posted by OhioPatriot

I disagree, I believe that all opportunities should be made to negotiate with terrorists because it weakens them and divides them.

If rebel/terrorist leaders have spent the last 10-20 years telling their recruits and their supporters that you are the devil, the great satan, the infidel, the worst thing ever to walk the Earth, and then they sit down at the table to talk with you, what does that say about them? The true believers, those who swallowed all of the propaganda over the years, may very well see it as a crass betrayal by old and tired leaders who want to cut a deal. Their supporters will also see it as a sign of weakness and a backing down from the revolutionary message.

Additionally, you can use peace talks to drive a wedge into a rebel movement and cause some to disarm, others to walk away completely, and others to form their own ultra radical groups with far fewer members than they had before. Think about what the British did with the IRA.

The talks don’t have to go anywhere… Offer terms that the elite/leaders cannot possibly accept but that many of their supporters would be willing and ready to accept, this will further alienate the leaders from their supporters. Simply negotiating doesn’t mean you will reach an agreement. In the end, you will have the moral high ground because you attempted to resolve things peacefully and they refused to accept a deal that the media will declare was reasonable and fair.

Always talk/negotiate with terrorists, always.

There has been a lot of talking and negotiating and terrorism is still on the rise. It only shrinks when there's less military interventions in the Middle East.

Even as they debate the appropriate U.S. military role in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the presidential candidates need to address the fact that al Qaeda has expanded its global presence. Since its establishment in 1988, al Qaeda’s strength has risen and fallen in a series of waves. Despite the death of Osama bin Laden, the Arab Spring has ushered in a fourth wave as al Qaeda has tried to push into North Africa and the Middle East.

One significant trend is the expansion of al Qaeda’s global network. The leaders of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al Shabaab in Somalia, al Qaeda in Iraq, and al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (in North Africa) have sworn bayat, or loyalty, to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and provided him with funding, global influence, and a cadre of trained fighters. None of these affiliate organizations existed a decade ago. But, over the past several years, attacks by these affiliates have increased.

Resurgence of al Qaeda | RAND