Tonight on the BBC, viewers were informed that the government was in an "impossible position" over "negotiating with terrorists". They were informed that governments do not, will not and cannot negotiate with terrorists by figures no less noble than Andrew Marr, Tim Collins MP, Tony Blair, Professor Paul Wilkinson and other experts.

Here, then, is my very, very short history of negotiating with terrorists:

 http://leninology.blogspot.com/2004_09_01_leninology_archive.html#109579171063545550