Later, John McCain further clarified the act of talking to enemies as 'reckless appeasement'.
In both cases, Syria has been mentioned by both of these astute men as one of the nations qualifying as an enemy - and therefore off-limits for talks.
Senator Obama claims that a strong America should never fear to talk with other countries and that talks can be tough and still be diplomatic - but not be any kind of appeasement.
This week it is learned that Israel, one of the most earnest of enemies with Syria is in talks with Syria.
This places a terrible burden on Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain to need to warn Israel that what they are doing is 'reckless appeasement'.
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Several years ago, a couple of women in Ireland had the fortitude to insist that the IRA and the UDF and representatives of Great Britain (forces that had been blowing each other to smithereens for generations), sit down and talk, or was it 'reckless appeasement?'. No, I think it was just talk with their enemies. How's Northern Ireland doing these days?
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Several years ago, South Africa ended Apartheid and Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu, and others insisted on non-violence and held Truth Commissions, and repatriated those that were in internal exile. They won Nobel Peace Prizes and accolades and awards worldwide.
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It is now time to put aside the simple minded rules of the last 8 years and build rules of peaceful existence for the next 80 years and beyond. Give our children a world where diplomacy starts wit human respect and moves to mutual national respect.
-jb
