Appeasement or engagement

The World

Obama, who is the frontrunner to become the Democrats’ presidential nominee, has argued in favor of negotiating with the Iranian regime. But he has ruled out talking to militant organizations like Hamas.

"Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals," said Mr. Bush in his speech on Thursday. "We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided.’ We have an obligation to call this what it is – the false comfort of appeasement."

Senator Obama responded in a statement: "It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of Israel’s independence to launch a false political attack. George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists."

"The World’s" Carol Hills examines what separates appeasement from engagement.

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