Reader's View: Diplomacy is best way to deal with terrorists

The U.S. should prepare to talk to terrorists, including the Taliban, Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda and ISIS.

U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan should explain to citizens why we need to support ample congressional funding for diplomacy to talk with terrorists, for the security of the U.S., its soldiers and the world.

The argument against talking with terrorists includes the perception that they are immoral, too extreme, different from prior terrorist movements and that the terrorists refuse to talk. These are always the arguments for every new terrorist group, but ultimately the U.S. deals with these terrorists and the results are beneficial for world security. Examples include Barbary pirates, Russia, North Vietnam, Cuba, the IRA, Irgun and the Sandinistas.

The real question is how to engage the terrorist groups in talk. All sides need deniability in the initial steps to talking. Talks can start in many ways. The U.S. government needs financial resources to support back-door diplomacy with terrorists, using the assistance of nonprofit organizations and key civilians to start mutually credible talking processes.

Talking to terrorists is helpful to our U.S. security. Terrorists are now more dangerous and have increasing access to chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and the delivery technologies for compounded destruction. But these new terrorist capabilities do not change the nature of the terrorism and how to deal with it.

The U.S. should reach out to talk with terrorists so the world can be safer. Klobuchar, Franken and Nolan can help us all understand and support talking with terrorists.

Larry Spears

Duluth