Every president since Nixon has advocated trade and engagement with China, with the prevailing belief that engagement will lead to democracy.

Why then do we have a different policy towards Cuba?

Does the Bush/McCain doctrine of isolating and closing channels of communication with our enemies (Iran, North Korea etc.) have any basis in psychological theory, as a valid mechanism to achieve our objectives?

“Negotiating with terrorists” is different than having dialogue to defuse anger and incentivize change, and does not necessarily connote weakness. A large stick can and should be wielded.

As the Tao says,

Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are brittle and dry.

Plants are born tender and pliant;

dead, they are brittle and dry. 

Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death.

Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life.

The hard and stiff will be broken.

The soft and supple will prevail.

Also, by calling our involvement in Iraq a “War,” we are empowering our enemies.  Acts of terror and violence against peace, freedom and democracy should not be legitimized by the language of war.