Fox, I'd go with Rice. If I thought it would do any good, I'd point ol' TP to the Public Report of the Vice President's (Biden) Task Force on Combatting Terrorism, Part 2 concerning U.S. Policy and Response to Terrorists.
It's pretty clear. "The US government will make no concessions to terrorists. It will not pay ransoms, release prisoners, change its policies or agree to other acts that might encourage other terrorism."
You're right. I think it best that you simply ignore the Public Report of the Vice President's task force on combating terrorism, Part two where it details US POLICY and response to terrorists. It's ever so much easier for you that way.
What you state as being pretty clear only looks to be words on a screen at a local forum in little town USA. You later accept (without a link) what appears to be the copied words from a Vice President's report as US policy. That's a huge leap.....
Just a little recap:
To start this BS says "I thought US policy was that we do not negotiate with terrorists"
Then, after a little blather, we are presented with "Public Report of the Vice President's Task Force on Combatting Terrorism" to support that statement followed by more blather.
Below are two paragraphs which are the closest things I found in that report to address U. S. poliicy for dealing directly with terrorists.
The U.S. Government will make no concessions to terrorists. It will not pay ransoms, release prisoners, change its policies or agree to other acts that might encourage additional terrorism. At the same time, the United States will use every available resource to gain the safe return of American citizens who are held hostage by terrorists.
???
Negotiating—The United States has a clear policy of no concessions to terrorists as the best way to protect the greatest number of people. However, the United States Government has always stated that it will talk to anyone and use every available resource to gain the release of Americans held hostage.
To me, it appears that NEGOTIATING is permitted.
I'll not even bring up Mobay's post that the Taliban are not designated as a terrorist organization. It doesn't matter.
Can we now drop this after apologies all around?
