Comments on: ‘Talking to Terrorists’ http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/ Kandahar & London Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:44:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: MILNEWS.ca http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-50 MILNEWS.ca Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:54:35 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-50 <p>Sounds like a good time to let it "slow cook" in your head while you're busy on the tour - safe travels!</p> Sounds like a good time to let it “slow cook” in your head while you’re busy on the tour – safe travels!

]]> By: Alex Strick van Linschoten http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Alex Strick van Linschoten Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:43:29 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-49 <p>Lots to write about, for sure... Don't have so much time what with the book tour... I'll try.</p> Lots to write about, for sure… Don’t have so much time what with the book tour… I’ll try.

]]> By: MILNEWS.ca http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-47 MILNEWS.ca Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:19:33 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-47 <p>Grist, maybe, for another post?</p> <p>Thanks for the back & forth!</p> Grist, maybe, for another post?

Thanks for the back & forth!

]]> By: Alex Strick van Linschoten http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Alex Strick van Linschoten Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:21:57 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-46 <p>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...</p> 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…

]]> By: MILNEWS.ca http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-45 MILNEWS.ca Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:03:05 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-45 <p>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.</p> <p>"Communications" = transparency on all sides?</p> 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?

]]> By: Alex Strick van Linschoten http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Alex Strick van Linschoten Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:03:01 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-42 <p>@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.</p> @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.

]]> By: Alex Strick van Linschoten http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Alex Strick van Linschoten Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:01:20 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-41 <p>Devin: here's the 'non-doctored' quote:</p> <p>"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.</p> <p>"As in 1972, a policy vacuum allowed the notion of 'talking to terrorists' to once more re-enter British calculations."</p> <p>You'll note that I didn't change much at all...</p> 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…

]]> By: MILNEWS.ca http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-40 MILNEWS.ca Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:42:51 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-40 <p>Good point re: the Northern Ireland (inexact) precedent.</p> <p>Any ideas re: how the "strategic bankruptcy" could be dealt with?</p> Good point re: the Northern Ireland (inexact) precedent.

Any ideas re: how the “strategic bankruptcy” could be dealt with?

]]> By: Devin http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Devin Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:24:58 +0000 http://www.alexstrick.com/2010/01/talking-to-terrorists/#comment-39 <p>This is definitely interesting. However, I think I would have preferred a non-doctored quote. Doctoring hints of less than full-disclosure.</p> This is definitely interesting. However, I think I would have preferred a non-doctored quote. Doctoring hints of less than full-disclosure.

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