‘Talking to Terrorists’
“The reality was that [Afghanistan] was viewed as an unwanted headache and one which seemed increasingly impossible to solve. This much is made clear from official government documents from the period, which reflect the sense of defeatism and intellectual exhaustion that permeated the highest echelons of the British state. [...] Governments had cast around for a ‘silver bullet’ to solve the crisis, oscillating between markedly divergent positions. [...] thinking on [Afghanistan] now appeared more rudderless than ever.
[...] a policy vacuum allowed the notion of ‘talking to terrorists’ to once more re-enter British calculations.”
I’ve doctored the above passage a little, but it’s certainly an interesting parallel for the present day discussion. The passage is, in fact, discussing post-1975 Northern Ireland and the British government’s return to a policy of clandestine discussions through intermediaries with figures from within the Provisional IRA.
The book does caution against drawing parallels between different circumstances — everything is local, after all — but the fact that even a brief read in the book will remind you of what is happening with international policy towards the Taliban at the moment is an indicator that there are at least lessons to be learnt here: ending political stalemate in the greater Kandahar area at the moment should be the single priority of any efforts to find ‘a solution’, but doing so from a point of strategic bankruptcy will inevitably be to the detriment of everyone’s long-term future.
As such, the book “Talking to Terrorists: Making Peace in Northern Ireland and the Basque Country (Crises in World Politics)” (John Bew, Martyn Frampton, Inigo Gurruchaga) is an absolute must-read for policy-makers who see a future (or an end-game) in the possibility of some sort of negotiated settlement with the Taliban.
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This is definitely interesting. However, I think I would have preferred a non-doctored quote. Doctoring hints of less than full-disclosure.
Devin
30 Jan 10 at 6:54 pm
Good point re: the Northern Ireland (inexact) precedent.
Any ideas re: how the “strategic bankruptcy” could be dealt with?
MILNEWS.ca
30 Jan 10 at 7:12 pm
Devin: here’s the ‘non-doctored’ quote:
“The reality was that Northern Ireland was viewed as an unwanted headache and one which seemed increasingly impossible to solve. This much is made clear from official government documents from the period, which reflect the sense of defeatism and intellectual exhaustion that permeated the highest echelons of the British state. In the three years since the imposition of Direct Rule, Conservative and Labour Governments had cast around for a ’silver bullet’ to solve the crisis, oscillating between markedly divergent positions. In the wake of Sunningdale, thinking on Northern Ireland now appeared more rudderless than ever.
“As in 1972, a policy vacuum allowed the notion of ‘talking to terrorists’ to once more re-enter British calculations.”
You’ll note that I didn’t change much at all…
Alex Strick van Linschoten
30 Jan 10 at 10:31 pm
@Milnews.ca: That’s a tough question, and I certainly don’t have the experience or knowledge to put together something all-encompassing; but I have a sneaking suspicion it’s not just a question of strategy (the basics of which we all agree on: we don’t want another 9/11) but rather of communication.
Alex Strick van Linschoten
30 Jan 10 at 10:33 pm
Interesting – while we can all agree on the “no more 9/11″ idea, there seems to be LOADS of interpretations re: how to ensure that.
“Communications” = transparency on all sides?
MILNEWS.ca
31 Jan 10 at 3:33 am
There’s LOTS to be said on communications — it’s a mixture of transparency (which you’ll never be able to get, btw, esp with the prevalence of conspiracy theories) and the mismatch in Afghans’ minds between the supposed military omnipotence of the US and their inability to defeat a few guys with old AKs…
Alex Strick van Linschoten
31 Jan 10 at 3:51 am
Grist, maybe, for another post?
Thanks for the back & forth!
MILNEWS.ca
31 Jan 10 at 4:49 am
Lots to write about, for sure… Don’t have so much time what with the book tour… I’ll try.
Alex Strick van Linschoten
31 Jan 10 at 1:13 pm
Sounds like a good time to let it “slow cook” in your head while you’re busy on the tour – safe travels!
MILNEWS.ca
31 Jan 10 at 6:24 pm