The day people who think like this get into power, we’re doomed.

Richardson: It’s very effective to take into account what your enemy is thinking. As we’ve found out, if you don’t try to understand terrorists, you may well just be playing into their hands. A purely military response might only exacerbate the perceived grievances that motivate terror attacks. It’s unbelievable, but the public diplomacy budget of the United States is only two-thirds of one percent of its military budget — even though public diplomacy could be an effective way to combat the impression of the United States as an imperialist power.

Yeah, unbelievable that we don’t use debating teams and Wal-Mart door-greeters to defend our interests at home and abroad from enemies that would use military-level power to attack us.

By the way, since it’s apparently “our image as an imperialist power” that’s driving these wackjob jihadis, how do you explain the bombings and plots in London, Spain and elsewhere?

And then the kicker…

SPIEGEL ONLINE: You’ve mentioned the possibility of setting up talks with groups like al-Qaida. How would such talks be set up?

Richardson: Well, I’m not suggesting that President Bush sit across a table from Osama bin Laden. They would be informal, set up through back channels. These sorts of efforts from the British government were instrumental in the successful resolution of conflict in Northern Ireland. And it’s conspicuously lacking from the United States right now. Talks wouldn’t have to be negotiations. Sometimes diplomacy is just a matter of feeling the other side out, of finding out what they actually want. If we could find splits within the organization of al-Qaida, we could play them off of each other for our benefit, isolating the most radical elements. Some people say that setting up talks with terror groups would grant them too much legitimacy. But, in my view, declaring war on a terror group is actually the most effective way of granting legitimacy.

Finding out what they actually want? They actually want you and me and everyone else to convert to Islam or die…

…oh and don’t forget the total and complete elimination of the state of Israel.

But yeah, we should chat with ‘em sometime. Great idea, ivy league genius.

1. These deranged brain-damaged leftists are a danger to themselves and the nation. It’s unfortunate there is no shortage of them in the congressional cesspool.

   Comment by Apollyon — 9:00 pm
   

2. “It’s unbelievable, but the public diplomacy budget of the United States is only two-thirds of one percent of its military budget”

   Not really. When you’re facing multiple nations with citizens who will gladdly blow themselves up to kill you, military strength is needed. Ergo, budget is needed.

   Plus, the military requires far more sophisticated, complex and plentiful equipment than negotiators, therefore a larger budget is required.

   The military also requires more people, supplies and all the accessories that go with (housing, transportation, storage etc) which ups the budget.

   Congress of course is taking the Maxwell Smart route by downgrading from a full batallion down to one squadron down to two angry boy scouts.

   When someone is holding a gun to your head and is intent on killing you because they believe you are the devil, talking to them and “making nice” is not in the cards.

   If the democrats want to negotiate however, I think that is a fantastic idea. Send them all over after they sign a waiver that will instruct all military persons to stay away from them and their discussions. They will be on their own with nothing but their diplomacy to help them. After all, that’s all they need right?

   Just before the swords hit their throats they should have a good idea of what Jihadists want.

   “Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell and making them look forward to the trip.”

   Comment by CommonSenseRules — 10:49 am
   

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