Recently, Carter was blasted for talking to Hamas and Obama for wanting to talk to Iran and other "terrorists".

It is a fair argument to say that we shouldn't talk to anyone, but wouldn't it be a better diplomatic tool to talk to our enemies?

Hamas' manifesto talks about wiping Israel off the face of the earth. Yes, it's terrible, but in my opinion, if we went after all of these terrorists and world leaders that have committed atrocities, wouldn't we seriously invade the entire planet?

What's wrong with talking to our enemies, exactly?

Anyone recall the Iran-Contra scandal? We sold arms to Iran to free American hostages from, you guessed it, Hezbollah

Moreover, even though Hamas has engaged in suicide attacks, didn't they achieve a majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament?

No one is defending Hamas or Iran for being kooks, but that doesn't mean we can't engage in diplomacy, especially when our country has been having a bit of trouble over the last few years with our image around the world.

I simply don't see any reason in ostracizing our enemies and I think Mccain is wrong on this issue.

Opinions?

what's there to talk about....Iran and Hamas do NOT recognize Israel and Iran even vowed to "wipe them off the map". That says it all.

Naturally the US should talk with them. All wars represent a failure of diplomacy.

Carter is under the impression that Hamas is ready to negotiate peacefully and recognize the existence of Israel.

Obviously they are not, and they continue to commit acts of terrorism. A truce is the first step to negotiations, and both sides have to make agreements and concessions, and neither Hamas nor Israel is prepared to do that.

Iran is the same. They are unwilling to make concessions or to negotiate. Obama's comment that he would negotiate without any previous agreements or concessions simply proves his inexperience in foreign affairs.

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Well, in Carter's case, he wasn't talking to his enemies.

He was talking to his friends as he made so clear by all the hugs and laying of wreaths, and such.

No we shouldn't talk. As Bush said we should never negotiate with terrorists.

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Talks are just "talk," without a strong threat of force to back it up.

The problem is, if you DON'T force to back up your "talk," you're a wimp (see: The U.N.), but if you DO use force, then the out-of-touch hippies take over the media, and demonize you.

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I really just don't see the advantages of trying to out-muscle Iran to get them to cooperate. It may work in the short-term, but in the long-term I think it will just antagonize the country.

I think the whole "force" thing may be a nice tool to get someone to comply with a proposal, but international relations are more effective (in my opinion).

For example, did anyone hear Hillary Clinton a few weeks ago? She talked about how if Iran attacked Israel we would "obliterate them". This really does seem like the wrong kind of "force" that doesn't help us influence Iran in a positive way.

Also, I still don't understand this whole nuclear-weapon argument. We don't want Iran to build nuclear weapons, so why not get inspectors to prevent them from doing anything other than building nuclear plants for their own use?
Moreover, why are we not applying this requirement for "non-nuclear proliferation" to Israel as well as Iran?
Israel shouldn't get some sort of advantage for being our ally. No one should have nuclear weapons, including the United States, period.

you are absolutely right zilea
there is no harm in communicating with those who disagree with you
while there is no guarantee that any progress will be made, there is a possibility
that possibility of progress does not exist where the parties refuse to communicate

notice the absolute statements some forumites have offered, such that talks without threat of force are pointless or this gem, "Iran is the same. They are unwilling to make concessions or to negotiate. Obama's comment that he would negotiate without any previous agreements or concessions simply proves his inexperience in foreign affairs." that fellow's misguided notion of bargaining is absurd. it is obvious he has no real understanding of negotiations. i bet he pays sticker price for everything and does not realize what he has left on the table

he imagines preconditions should be realistically imposed. if i concede to your preconditions then you don't need to negotiate as i have already caved. the world negotiates. Americans (maybe Canadians, too) are the only society i am aware of where we don't haggle when we shop. certainly the inhabitants of the middle east haggle as a way of doing business. those (usually American tourists) who pay the asking price because they failed to bargain are considered rubes. and that is how our state department is seen internationally, as a bunch of rubes who have no idea how to negotiate

do not confuse preconditions with ground rules. negotiating ground rules is a preliminary stage of negotiations where each party positions itself and attempts to gain an edge. negotiating these ground rules is often as important in achieving the final result as the actual full negotiations

no surprise, dubya's incompetent staff have no clue about this. fortunately, Obama and his team do

so, thanks for allowing me to laugh at the naiveté of those right wing naifs who mistake Obama's willingness to negotiate as a weakness

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No because apparently that is appeasement

Hamas have said they are willing to accept a two state solution for Israel and Palestine thus confirming that they will negotiate.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/...ast/index.html

Hamas is beginning to accept that Israel is here to stay. They are propsing a solution which will finally bring peace to Holy Land. They're offering talks, we should take them up.

And for the record, the president of Iran did not say he wanted to 'wipe Israel off the map' it was a mistranslation.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles...7offthemap.htm

(The article is a bit heavy handed against Israel, but you get the point.)

If you are scared about Iran getting nuclear energy then why are you not for us helping them in alternative research? Why not a US-Iran research center into cheap alternatives for power? Oh wait, that option doesn't involved a war.......

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