Hillary Clinton said that she would not promise to meet with the leaders of enemy nations stating that a new president had to be careful not to be exploited by hostile leaders for propaganda purposes and not to do anything "that would make the situation worse." Before any meeting, she'd have to know "what the way forward would be."
Barack Obama on the other hand said that he thought it a disgrace that "we haven't talked to leaders of the five anti-American countries" and pointed out that despite President Reagan calling the Soviet Union an "evil empire" he still talked to Soviet leaders.
Do you think that dialogue between hostile nations is the way forward and is an opportunity that is too easily overlooked?
In politics, is last year's enemy, this year's friend as was the case of Libya's Colonel Gaddafi in 2004; or a few years later last year's friend this year's pariah as was the case of Gaddafi in 2011?
Can an end to conflicts like Northern Ireland only be achieved once the politicians have opened up a discussion?
Is the willingness to meet face to face with your enemy a sign of weakness?
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