The Rewards of Terror, Redux

The “conservative” Chosun Ilbo managed to fit both of the following statements into a single editorial:

The most serious barrier in saving Kim is the urgency of time. The government must begin convincing the terrorist group at once through Iraq’s religious leaders and, if necessary, engage in off-the-record negotiations.

. . . .

However, no matter how precise the plan would be, it may be difficult to totally block out threats of terrorism. Therefore, an important factor would be how much the government and its people maturely confront the situation against terrorism. Surrendering to a terrorist attack is the same as inviting terrorism.

. . . which, one must assume, is the idea behind “off-the-record negotiations.” Is such a rudderless, irresolute government really the one you want protecting your flank? But then, the Korean troops won’t arrive until the war is over, and then, only in the safest part of Iraq. One’s heart goes out to this fellow and his family regardless. If the terrorists make good on their threat, Muslims in Korea shouldn’t expect the Koreans to display much societal angst about “ethnic profiling.”