Current Events Perry “[Mark Perry’s] writing conveys a strong impression that he has not spent his career merely watching i the action from a safe seat in the bleachers. . . . [His] tone calls to mind a Tom Clancy novel.” —New Yorker t has long been an article of faith that the United States does not “talk to terrorists”—that to peaceably approach groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood would “ undermine our democratic principles and acknowledge extremists as legitimate political actors. Not so, argues Middle East expert Mark Perry. In Talking to Terrorists, Perry uses extensive interviews with Pentagon insiders to expose the fruitful history of covert meetings between the U.S. Armed Forces and major terrorist leaders. In so doing, he demonstrates that diplomacy with extremists may be the only way to end terrorism—controversial wisdom we ignore at our peril. “Why not distinguish between [terrorist] groups and engage in a little diplomacy with those extremists who can in their own way assist in our war on terror? Sounds crazy, perhaps, but Perry “ demonstrates in his book how a controversial approach to the war on terror may be a path to success in minimizing the terrorist threat.” —WaSHINGTONPOST.COM “Fascinating and original.” —THe NaTIONaL (aBU DHaBI) “This is clearly no dry academic exercise but an urgent mission. . . . There is much to be learnt from Why AmericA Perry’s discussions with leaders of groups like Hezbollah and Hamas—much that one can only hope Western leaders learn very soon. . . . American statesmen and policymakers should read this book, “ must urgently.” —aSIa TIMeS “ engAge 5-13/16 x 9-1/16” Mark Perry is a military, intelligence, and foreign affairs analyst and writer. His articles have appeared in the Nation, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times, among other papers. The gen With its B: 5/8” A W author of seven books including Grant and Twain, Partners in Command, and the National Jewish eg hy BASIC W A PB Book Award–winning A Fire in Zion, he lives in Arlington, Virginia. thi mer enemies it ic S&B s A Cover design by Thomas Beck Stvan en mu Cover art: splash © martinlubpl, 2009, and frame © Lori Howard, em st 4/COLOR 2009, are both used under license from Shutterstock.com $18.00 US / $21.00 CAN ies ISBN 978-0-465-02199-4 FINISH: 51800 Gritty Matte M a r k P e r r y A Member of the Perseus Books Group www.basicbooks.com 9 780465 021994 9780465021994-text_Layout 1 12/1/10 12:40 PM Page a Praise for Mark Perry’s Talking to Terrorists “It’s startling to read about American military commanders in the field taking on a freelance diplomatic mission of this magnitude, and to imagine that there was a businessman in Amman who, on the right terms, could have snapped his fin- gers and ended what we back home thought of as pervasive, wild-eyed jihad.” —New Yorker “[A] well-crafted, fascinating book. . . . Highly recommended.” —Choice “[Talking to Terrorists] tells an all-too-familiar story about politi- cal territoriality and the disconnect between policy-makers and the personnel on the ground. The solution, urges Perry, is a re- jection of unhelpful rhetoric and a recognition that pragmatism has its place in defusing terror.” —Booklist “[Mark Perry] contributes a worthy commentary on contem- porary Middle Eastern history and a valuable argument for communication between America and her enemies.” —Publishers Weekly “In Talking to Terrorists, Perry has uncovered the source of victo- ries and defeats in the Middle East. His own conversations with various leaders throughout that region are especially intriguing, and lend even more credibility to his stance. All in all, Talking to Terrorists is probably one of the most important guides for military and political leaders everywhere.” —Curled Up with a Good Book 9780465021994-text_Layout 1 12/1/10 12:40 PM Page b “In this book, Mark Perry allows us to hear different voices and a different language from those whom we have all too easily writ- ten off as murderers and terrorists. Perry understands the basic truth that too many of us have forgotten—and that is there is not one truth, but many.” —Seymour M. Hersh “Very few westerners understand the Middle East and its politics as well as Mark Perry, and the reason for his insights lies in this book: unlike most diplomats, journalists and academics, he de- rives his knowledge of organizations such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Sunni national resistance in Iraq not from second-hand sources but close personal contact. Not only has he talked to those generally labeled and dismissed as terrorists, he offers here a clear definition of when such groups are worth talking to, in the sense that doing so may create real opportunities for peace, and when (as in the case of al-Qaeda) they clearly aren’t. Beautifully written, this is both a gripping narrative and a piece of compelling advocacy, casting new light on some of the historic catastrophes of the present and recent past.” —David Rose,contributing editor, Vanity Fair 9780465011179-text_Layout 1 11/11/09 8:09 AM Page i TA L K I N G T O TERRORISTS 9780465011179-text_Layout 1 11/11/09 8:09 AM Page ii 9780465021994-text_Layout 1 12/1/10 12:43 PM Page iii T A L K I N G T O TERRORISTS WHY AMERICA MUST ENGAGE WITH ITS ENEMIES M A R K P E R R Y A Member of the Perseus Books Group New York 9780465021994-text_Layout 1 12/1/10 12:43 PM Page iv Copyright © 2010 by Mark Perry Hardcover first published in 2010 by Basic Books, A Member of the Perseus Books Group Paperback first published in 2011 by Basic Books All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, address Basic Books, 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016- 8810. Books published by Basic Books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the United States by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call (800) 810- 4145, ext. 5000, or e-mail [email protected]. Designed by Trish Wilkinson Set in 12 point Goudy The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover as follows: Perry, Mark. Talking to terrorists : why America must engage with its enemies / Mark Perry. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-465-01117-9 (alk. paper) 1. Terrorists—Psychology. 2. Terrorism—Prevention. 3. Muslims— Communication. 4. Qaida (Organization) 5. Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyah. 6. Hizballah (Lebanon) 7. Communication in organizations. 8. Communication in politics. 9. Communication and culture I. Title. HV6431.P468 2009 363.325—dc22 2009032542 Paperback ISBN 978-0-465-02199-4 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 9780465011179-text_Layout 1 11/11/09 8:09 AM Page v To the men and women of the 3rd Civil Affairs Group 1st Marine Expeditionary Force United States Marine Corps al-Anbar Province, Iraq 9780465011179-text_Layout 1 11/11/09 8:09 AM Page vi 9780465011179-text_Layout 1 11/11/09 8:09 AM Page vii CONTENTS Author’s Note xi Prologue Coalitions 1 Chapter 1 Vigilant Resolve 7 Chapter 2 The July Surprise 33 Chapter 3 Terrorists and Moderates 59 Chapter 4 Al-Anbar Awakens 85 Chapter 5 Hamas 111 Chapter 6 Hezbollah 137 Chapter 7 Israel 165 Chapter 8 Talking to Terrorists 191 Epilogue Winning 211 Notes 219 Index 245 vii