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It’s a line we’ve heard in countless movies and TV shows. Get the picture: a terrorist group hijacks a plane, kidnaps an American, or otherwise takes over something on U.S. soil, and the country’s leaders are discussing what to do. Usually, the president or someone else in the administration says that inevitable line: “We do not negotiate with terrorists!”
IfwearetobelieveareportfromNBC,that’snotthecaseanymore.Or,asmycolleagueEdMorrisseyputit:“Oldandbusted:Americadoesn’tnegotiatewithterrorists.Newhotness:We’drathercutadealwithterroriststhansupportourally.”
NBCisreportingthattheWhiteHouseisreadytoworkonadealtogetfivehostagesbackfromHamasalongwiththeremainsofthreedeadhostageswhileleavingIsraeloutoftheloop:
BidenadministrationofficialshavediscussedpotentiallynegotiatingaunilateraldealwithHamastosecurethereleaseoffiveAmericansbeingheldhostageinGazaifcurrentcease-firetalksinvolvingIsraelfail,accordingtotwocurrentseniorU.S.officialsandtwoformerseniorU.S.officials.
SuchnegotiationswouldnotincludeIsraelandwouldbeco
