The US's Lethal Policy of Non-negotiation

According to today's New York Times update on journalist Jill Carroll, terrorist abductee in Iraq:

Four Iraqi women remain in American custody after today's release, and the fate of Ms. Carroll had not become any clearer this evening. Nothing has been heard from the kidnappers since the Jan. 17 broadcast, when she was shown in a silent video.

'We do not negotiate or bend to demands of terrorists,' said Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a military spokesman."

I am so sick of hearing this mantra parroted by the leadership of the US government and military. It doesn't take a genius to point out that there is a lethal, self-defeating conclusion implicit in this stance. Here is a syllogism to demonstrate:

• Terrorists take US hostages and will kill them unless the US complies with their demands.
• Negotiation might be possible, but the US does not negotiate with terrorists or comply with their demands.
• Therefore, the US implicitly guarantees the deaths of terrorist hostages. QED.

US politicians, government and military officials, take note: Your fundamentalism and extremism are no less destructive and idiotic than that of the terrorists. You deserve each other. May you waste your lifetimes away accomplishing nothing. This is how you represent the American people and the western world, whose intelligence, courage, willingness and thoughtfulness are totally lost on you. What a waste.