UNFORTUNATELY the idea of discussion, as mooted by Howard Perry (Letters, November 21) in order to put a stop to the carnage being wreaked by IS, is not liable to happen.
When dealing with a regime who welcome death rather than fearing it, talking isn’t liable to work.
It would be wonderful if negotiation could put an end to the hate IS has for the West, but I doubt if this could be achieved.
Recent history, the Second World War, demonstrated how fanaticism can only be nullified by stronger forces.
Hitler’s Nazi party attempted the destruction of the Jewish race and the subjugation of the entire world. He was defeated by force.
Imperial Japan wanted, post the surrender of Nazi Germany, to carry on with the Second World War.
They were defeated by force, ie two atomic bombs. Both regimes, after their country’s surrender, did negotiate the conditions for their futures.
It is very doubtful if negotiating with IS would ever achieve anything.
Roger Westmorland (Letters, November 21) suggests we “learn from history” and quotes, after mentioning the 10,000 bombings by the IRA, that we could be opening the doors for a similar campaign from IS.
It’s already happening and unless IS is quashed the same way the Nazis and imperial Japan were, we may learn to regret it.
Philip Roe, Roman Avenue South, Stamford Bridge
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