The folly of negotiating with Islamists
Imagine that after Sept. 11, American and European leaders had proposed negotiating with Al-Qaeda rather than destroying it. The discussion would not have centered on dismantling its terrorist infrastructure, but on what concessions the West should make to persuade Osama bin Laden to stop attacking it. Perhaps recognition of a new Islamic caliphate. Perhaps acceptance of sharia law.The idea is absurd. No serious American leader suggested bargaining with Al-Qaeda or ISIS to moderate their ambitions. The United States hunted down and killed bin Laden and his comrades, helped uproot ISIS and destroy its caliphate, and rejected the Islamist objective of world domination. The lesson was clear: Movements committed to religious conquest and perpetual jihad cannot be appeased. They must be defeated.This lesson has been forgotten by those who believe that America can appease Iran and that sanctions relief can moderate its behavior.Iran’s rulers are not interested only in regional hegemony.…
The article argues against negotiating with Islamist movements, asserting that societies celebrating violence and terrorism cannot produce peace-seeking leaders. It draws parallels between Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Iranian regime, stating that these groups, driven by religious conquest, cannot be appeased but must be defeated. The author criticizes the idea of easing pressure on Iran for temporary concessions, highlighting Iran's long-term ambitions and its view of itself as a revolutionary Islamic movement. The piece also addresses Palestinian politics, contending that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority promote an ideology of conflict and the destruction of Israel, making a two-state solution unfeasible under current leadership. It suggests that genuine peace requires a fundamental shift in Palestinian political culture, including the de-Islamization of institutions and the emergence of leaders willing to abandon core Islamist tenets.
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