Yes, we can.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Where did Obama say he'd meet personally with the heads of adversarial governments???

"Talk to our Foes and Friends: Obama is willing to meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe."

From http://www.barackobama.com/issues/fo...icy/#diplomacy

[innerSpaceman]

Ok, and then what's wrong with negotiating? You think we don't give something when we go to war? Lives of thousands of soldiers? The national treasury through 13 generations from now?


You don't think we can negotiate for something less costly than that?

[€uroMeinke]

Perhaps our next pres should take a vow of silence? Listening to Clinton's victory speech on the way home tonight makes me think that might just be a good idea (should she get the job)

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

Perhaps our next pres should take a vow of silence? Listening to Clinton's victory speech on the way home tonight makes me think that might just be a good idea (should she get the job)

Didn't Carter do something like that back in 79-80?

[Prudence]

I see negotiation at this point as having less to do with those involved with the meeting and more to do with world-wide perception. The US doesn't have the international backing it needs and playing the game perhaps will correct some of the damage done there.

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I see negotiation at this point as having less to do with those involved with the meeting and more to do with world-wide perception. The US doesn't have the international backing it needs and playing the game perhaps will correct some of the damage done there.

So well put and me without mojo to give...

Though I feel that I see things from the SJ/SCA side, that negotiations don't always work and in some cases create a worse situation, I still prefer it to jumping right into some nonsense. I just don't know why we can't reside in the happy medium. I mean, it's medium, but happy for a reason.

[tracilicious]

When do we find out who gets the dem nom?

[cirquelover]

Maybe after Oregon. I'm just thrilled that all eyes are on us for once, usually it's all over before they even think about us. The candidates have been busy scouring the state, even getting close to us, but we haven't been able to make it to see them. I hear they'll be back this weekend, maybe Gary will try to get tickets to see Obama.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Well, I don't know that I can offer an analogy that helps you, my friend since I don't agree with your position.

But therein lies the challange...to argue your opponents point better than your opponent

I don't see negotiation as a reward, per se. It is an attempt to come to a mutually beneficial agreement. And if it is successful, both sides give something up and both sides benefit - which would indeed cause bad behavior to decrease.

But what if one side is acting badly not out of a honest grievance but simply for the stuff the negotiating will get them(North Korea comes to mind)?

The alternative is to take the stubborn, unmovable approach - which often leads to plenty of unnecessary violence and death, and/or a backlash against the country that was unwilling to negotiate. In the end, you retain the "toughest guy on the block" status, but you are still viewed as a pompous bully, rather than a nation attempting a solution that could have kept the peace.

Once again I am not saying don't talk at all....I am just saying don't reward these despots for their nasty behavior by honoring them with face time with our President.

[scaeagles]

"Negotiations" with North Korea during the 90s made them a nuclear power.

"Negotiations" with Hitler during the 30s emboldened him because he swore he'd stop after the Sudetenland (sp?).

"Negotiations" between Isreal and Arafat led to 97% of the land the Palestinians were demanding being offered to them, but it wasn't good enough because land wasn't the goal of Arafat.

Diplomacy is fine. Diplomacy, however, when performed by the naive, makes things much, much worse. This is my fear.