SHS` wrote: One doesn't get very far with "War in Terror" when you refuse to negotiate with terrorists. I have no idea how history will judge this one, though do bare in mind a certain Margaret Thatcher branded a certain Nelson Mandela on (mis)advice that he was a terrorist not worth negotiating with.
And on the flip side the UK did once negotiate with terrorists ... wow, that was successful.
You cannot negotiate with these people, you immediately weaken your position ... as we did above. Even ignoring that, how do you negotiate with people who's ultimate goal is the elimination of "our" influence on "their" people ... because that's what it comes to, whatever they may "demand" now.