http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10918880
Hello all,
I found this article whilst surfing the BBC website as I do on many occasions. I felt it raised many philosophical questions about negotiating with ‘terrorists’ and whether it can always be done.
As some members of this forum will know I have my views about British involvement in Ireland and whether the IRA were all bad but I do not wish to discuss the particulars of that case (unless the members really want another heated discussion on the topic).
So, with the recent statement by my hero Martin McGuinness that both the British and Irish governments are in negotiations with dissident republicans, do you think we should talk to those committed to continue violence in the 6 occupied counties? As the article then goes on to ask, could you sit down with Hamas, the Taliban (as the MoD I think has started to hint at) or even the big man himself Osama bin Laden?
My personal opinion is that talking to dissident republicans is simply necessary. In my view there will always be people in Ireland who will use violence against British targets until us Brits pack up and leave them to it. If Sinn Fein engage them and try and reach out to them as much as possible it will avoid a ‘them and us’ situation evolving like I have seen on the website of radical Republican group éirígí’s website where they see Sinn Fein as foes rather than friends. I guess it is also important for the British to talk to dissidents as only with dialogue and mutual respect can we ever hope to stop these groups attacking innocent civilians.
As for whether I would talk to any Islamic groups, as long as they decided to give up terrorism and tell me what grievances they had against the West then, yes why not! If we do not engage these people in dialogue and try and reach out to them they will continue to try and commit terrible crimes against the innocent people of the US, UK, Spain or any other country they feel like bombing.
Look forward to hearing some views!
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August 12, 2010 at 8:46 pm