36 Years later and the U.S. Never Learns: Talking to Terrorists Always Backfires
From the PLO on December 14, 1988 to HTS on December 14, 2024, the U.S. Repeats the Same Mistake of Engaging Terrorist Groups
December 14, 1988: The United States broke a 13-year freeze and agreed to talk to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a group officially designated as a terrorist organization. This decision came under President Ronald Reagan, one day after Yasser Arafat’s carefully staged UN speech in Geneva, where he “renounced” terrorism. The move was hailed by some as a step toward peace, but the truth quickly became clear: the PLO didn’t abandon terrorism—they used the opportunity to entrench it. Decades later, the United States and Western Taxes are still paying salaries to those who murder civilians. Instead of delivering peace, the U.S. legitimized terrorism.
“The Palestine Liberation Organization today issued a statement in which it accepted United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, recognized Israel's right to exist, and renounced terrorism. These have long been our conditions for a substantive dialog. They have been met. Therefore, I have authorized the State Department to enter into a substantive dialog with PLO representatives. The Palestinian Liberation Organization must live up to its statements. In particular, it must demonstrate that its renunciation of terrorism is pervasive and permanent.” - Statement on Diplomatic Talks With the Palestine Liberation Organization, President Ronald Reagan 12/14/1988
36 Years later and the U.S. repeats the same mistake
Fast forward exactly 36 years, December 14, 2024: The U.S. is repeating the same mistake. This time, it’s opening communication with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that grew out of al-Qaeda. Led by Abu Mohammad al-Joulani, someone declared a terrorist by the UN Security Council since 2013 and United States $10 million reward for information leading his arrest.,
"Yes, we have been in contact with HTS and with other parties," Blinken said. He added that "our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed and we're prepared to help them do so." - Anthony Blinken news conference in Aqaba, Jordan - December 14, 2024
HTS has rebranded, claiming it has evolved. But just like Arafat’s 1988 promises, this claim is likely hollow. The group still espouses the same extremist ideology, using their new image to gain legitimacy while maintaining their violent, radical core. The U.S. is again being fooled by a carefully crafted façade, repeating the error of legitimizing terrorism in the hope of peace, despite the historical evidence that such engagement only strengthens extremism.
Legitimizing Terror: The American Mistake
The U.S. justifies these moves with the same tired excuses: "It’s for peace," or "They’ve changed." But history tells a different story. Terrorists don’t change—they adapt. They manipulate dialogue to gain legitimacy, consolidate power, and prepare for the next wave of violence.
The PLO played this game perfectly. They exploited U.S. engagement to bolster their global standing while continuing to glorify and fund terrorism. HTS is following the same script, and by opening the door to them, the U.S. is sending a clear message: terrorism works.
And let’s not forget the Taliban, another prime example. Back in 2010, the U.S. began backchannel talks with the Taliban under President Obama, hoping to create a pathway to peace in Afghanistan. Despite their history of brutality and extremism, these talks were seen as an opportunity to bring them into negotiations. But by 2020, when the Trump administration formalized the Doha Agreement on February 29, 2020, the Taliban had used this engagement to consolidate their power, only to return to their oppressive rule in 2021 after the chaotic and failed U.S. withdrawal under President Biden. The Taliban’s promises of moderation and peace talks were hollow, and their actions since taking over have only proven that they remain committed to their violent ideology. By legitimizing the Taliban, the U.S. sent a message that terrorism is rewarded, and radical regimes are given a free pass to continue their reign of terror.
Engaging with terrorists doesn’t bring peace; it emboldens them. In 1988, it was the PLO. In 2024, it’s HTS. These groups don’t change their nature—they just change their rhetoric. How many times will the U.S. repeat this mistake before realizing that terrorists, no matter their promises or rebranding, will always be terrorists?
The victims of terrorism, past and future, deserve better. The U.S. must stop pretending that dialogue with murderers leads to peace. All it does is ensure that terror wins. This betrayal isn’t just theoretical—it has real consequences. Legitimizing groups like HTS demoralizes allies, rewards extremism, and endangers countless lives.
