THE QUESTION
Countries like to claim they don't negotiate with terrorists. But didn't South Korea do the sensible thing in repeating its pledge to withdraw its troops and ban its missionaries from Afghanistan -- and, according to some reports, pay a ransom -- in return for the Taliban release of 21 hostages?
Posted by David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria on September 4, 2007 7:00 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Vivian Salama is an award winning reporter, producer and blogger. Currently based in Lahore, Pakistan, she has reported for various publications from across the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, the United States and North and South Korea. She has also appeared as a commentator on the BBC, France24, South African Broadcasting Corp., TVNZ, NPR and as a reporter for Voice of America radio. Her byline has appeared in numerous publications including Newsweek, USA Today, the International Herald Tribune, the National, Jerusalem Post, and the Daily Star. Salama has an MA in Islamic Politics from Columbia University and she previously worked as a lecturer of international journalism at Rutgers University.
Give and Take Can Strengthen Moderates
Governments that are willing to negotiate may make more progress by getting a foot in the door than by shutting terrorist groups out.
Vivian Salama USA/Middle East |Sep 5, 2007 at 5:24 PM
Yossi Melman is a senior commentator for the Israeli daily Haaretz. He specializes in intelligence, security, terrorism and strategic issues. An author of seven books on these topics, his most recent book, The Nuclear Sphinx of Tehran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the State of Iran was published recently by Carroll & Graf.
Cut Out the Hypocrisy on Terrorism
Yossi Melman Tel Aviv, Israel |Miklós Vámos is a Hungarian novelist, screenwriter and talk show host. He is one of the most read and respected writers in his native Hungary. He has taught at Yale University on a Fulbright fellowship, served as The Nation’s East European correspondent, worked as consultant on the Oscar-winning film Mephisto, and presented Hungary’s most-watched cultural television show. Vámos has received numerous awards for his plays, screenplays, novels and short stories, including the Hungarian Merit Award for lifetime achievement. The Book of Fathers is considered his most accomplished novel and has sold 200,000 copies in Hungary.
Negotiation By Any Means
Miklos Vamos Budapest, Hungary |Daoud Kuttab is a Palestinian journalist. He was born in Jerusalem in 1955. He is a former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University in the United States. Mr. Kuttab is the former director of the Institute of Modern Media at Al Quds University in Ramallah, Palestine and the founder of AmmanNet, the Arab world's first internet radio station. His personal web page is www.daoudkuttab.com.
Negotiation Isn't Enough
Daoud Kuttab Jerusalem/Amman, Jordan |Recent Discussions
- Should the World Help Iran Protesters?
- Iranian Election Aftermath
- Obama's Cairo Speech
- Has the World Lost Confidence in U.S. Economic Management?
- The Future of Newspapers
- U.S., Israel on a Crash Course Over Iran?
- Threats From An Interlinked World
- Reconciliation for Turkey and Armenia
- All Past Questions


Recent Comments
MikeB : "For example...
MikeB : "For example...
MikeB : "For example...
MikeB : "For example...
Dear Friends: Negotia...
Negotiating with terro...
From "The Australian",...
by no means countries ...