Never Negotiate With a Terrorist

Summary: If you negotiate with a terrorist, he will make promises, but whenever it is convenient, he will break them. Negotiation with a terrorist gives him undeserved legitimacy. Even a ‘rehabilitated’ terrorist cannot be trusted. Iran is a terrorist nation that supports the Iraq insurgency and that wants to annihilate Israel. This terrorist, like all terrorists, already has his mind made up. What, then, can the purpose of negotiation possibly be?

Iran’s un-popularly elected prime minister, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently claimed that Israel should be “wiped off the map”. He was not the first Iranian government leader to make this statement. Some people may think it’s funny, but I don’t see how. Some people probably think they’re not serious, but I think it is a serious risk not to think so. Some people may claim that Iran could never carry out such a threat. As of yesterday, they have one step to go before they can practice what they preach.

Israel showed remarkable restraint yesterday after Iran announced that it has produced low-grade enriched uranium, saying only that “diplomacy remained the best option…”. I'm not sure I agree. Deep down, I really don't think Israel does either. Admittedly low-grade enriched uranium cannot be used for nuclear weapons. It is, however, the final step before acquiring the ability to produce weapons-grade uranium. Is it clear that Iran has not yet reached its ultimate nuclear goal? I think so.

Iran is the main supporter of terrorists around the globe. It is currently developing relationships with Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who is becoming well-known for suppression of dissent in his own country. It financially supports Hamas in Israel. It financially supports Hezbollah in Syria and Lebanon. Iran supports the Sunni insurgency in Iraq. Iran supports Muqtada al Sadr and his militias in Iraq. Iran provides the weaponry that is being used by these groups to kill Israelis, Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis, and Americans. Iran is always looking for more efficient ways to accomplish this task. Nuclear weaponry is a more efficient killing method.

The only possible result of negotiation with such debauchery and full-fledged fraud would be to lend it legitimacy.

Iran abuses its own people. Iran arrests people who speak out against the government. Iran does not have free elections. Iran treats its women like second class citizens. Iran still implements public stonings for adultery and public hangings for crimes much less serious than that. Iranian jailers rape young women, especially if they are virgins, to insure that, under their interpretation of Islam, they would no longer be able to get into heaven because of adultery. Iran, in possession of nuclear weapons, would not be held back in the least by the fact that their nuclear launch would be met with a swift and more destructive response--the mullahs would be safe in their underground bunkers and would have a whole lot less people to repress anyway.

Any nation which repeatedly claims that another country should be wiped off the map is a terrorist nation. Even if an apology is made by that nation, it must be treated as a terrorist nation until legitimate regime change can be externally verified. A regime that even in passing wishes for another nation to be wiped off the map can never again be trusted.

Iran is a terrorist nation. Terrorists are long on rhetoric and short on honesty. Historically, terrorists have broken virtually every negotiated promise when it has suited their purposes.

Despite any controversy regarding any other facet of Islam, there can be no evidence given from the Koran or any of the teachings of Muhammad that it is okay for a government to repress, torture, and rape its own citizens. The mullahs are a fraud, and they know it. But they don’t care, because power is intoxicating.