Surrender, Die -- or Win

Note: I wrote, but forgot to publish this a year ago. Sadly, it remains timely, so I've posted it today.

How do you negotiate with someone who only wants you dead, especially when they are willing to die too?

Suicide bombings in recent years prove some Islamist terrorists are willing to die along with their victims, although Islamist leaders seem as fond of life as the rest of us.

As for negotiations, in the Islamist view our only choice is surrender or death.

Islamists have ben successfully appeased, but not for long.

Fortunately, there is a third alternative -- victory.

For all the fear and trouble unleashed by a terrorist attack such as that of 3/11 in Spain, terrorists have not enjoyed long-term success. It is a style of fighting chosen by the weak. And in the end, it usually fails.

Appeasement, on the other hand, always fails eventually.

So in the famous words of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, "This isn't the time to go all wobbly."