The Ethics of Surrender

The Taliban has approached the United Nations and requested a meeting to negotiate the surrender of their former stronghold Konduz. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has been clear that he opposes any negotiation with Taliban leaders or fighters. Because many Taliban fighters are also members of Al Qaeda, Rumsfeld emphatically said yesterday, "My hope is that they will either be killed or taken prisoner." Negotiating terms of surrender always raises difficult questions. Those dilemmas are even more pronounced in Afghanistan, because the defeated Taliban may present a threat of terrorism if they are allowed to go free. This hour, the ethical and political dilemmas surrounding the surrender of Afghanistan.

Guests:

Barry Posen, political science professor at MIT

studies U-S national security policy