If Palestinian tactic succeeds, it will spread

Mpls (red)Star Tribune / New York Times ^ | 4/2/02 | Thomas L. Friedman

[Valin]

The outcome of the war underway between the Israelis and Palestinians is vital to the security of every American, and indeed, I believe, to all of civilization. Why? Quite simply because Palestinians are testing out a whole new form of warfare, using suicide bombers -- strapped with dynamite and dressed as Israelis -- to achieve their political aims. And it is working.

[Valin]

Quite simply because Palestinians are testing out a whole new form of warfare, using suicide bombers -- strapped with dynamite and dressed as Israelis -- to achieve their political aims. And it is working.

Coming soon to a neighborhood near you?

[mgc1122]

Friedman succeeds in pointing out the obvious ... which many on this forum have alluded to for months.

[Rustynailww]

mexico could retake the southwest with just a few dozen suicide bombers.

[Diogenesis]

[mewzilla]

Would someone please superglue a copy of this column to the back of every bathroom stall door in every government building in D.C.

Actually, forget the Pentagon. Isn't nececessary. They get it.

[AppyPappy]

The problem with suicide bombers is that there is a finite number of them. The Palis are hoping the Israelis capitulate before the number runs out. This is a repeat of the Kamakazi attacks of WW2, the last gasp in a war.

[Flyer]

I doubt it. When the vigilantes started Mexicans would flee south.

[LJLucido]

mexico could retake the southwest with just a few dozen suicide bombers.

You won't be able to recruit enough suicide bombers without first converting them to Islam. And that isn't gonna happen soon.

[Dane]

Isn't this the guy who a couple of weeks ago was touting his lovefest meeting with the Saudi prince?

Anyway, what has done Bush done different than this passage,

First, Israel needs to deliver a military blow that clearly shows terror will not pay. Second, America needs to make clear that suicide bombing is not Israel's problem alone.(Bush saying that Israel has the righ to defend itself) To that end, the United States should declare that while it respects the legitimacy of Palestinian nationalism, it will have no dealings with the Palestinian leadership as long as it tolerates suicide bombings.(Bush has been calling for Arafat to stop the bombings)

So it looks like Bush has been doing this all along.

[TomGuy]

Let's not forget that the hijackers of 9/11 were a variant form of this type of suicide terrorism. It is not that far removed from us, even now.

[Rustynailww]

it would be for the atzlan. it seems unthinkable but it could be done.

[Valin]

Yes he is. And while I most certainly don't agree with everything he says, he is one of my favorite lefties.

[William Terrell]

The Palestinians are so blinded by their narcissistic rage that they have lost sight of the basic truth civilization is built on: the sacredness of every human life, starting with your own.

I read this and think, "How true." Then I remember medieval Japan.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Those talks were 90 percent of the way toward ending the occupation and creating a Palestinian state.

Great article, thanks for the post.
The math adopted by Arafat and his dead terrorist dupes is simple - the remaining 10% of their goals can be achieved by intifada aimed at innocent Israeli citizens. Western civilization must stop suicide bombing as a tactic, but ultmately the Arab worlds dictators are more at risk from these islamic militants than the democracies in the west. The entire world must unite against this intifada...

[Valin]

I read this and think, "How true." Then I remember medieval Japan.

Expand please. You've peeked my curiosity.

[Valin]

IMHO the Palestinians are being played for chumps by the rest of the arab world.

[William Terrell]

Japan during that period had a high civilization and little regard for human life.

[gridlock]

A nonviolent Palestinian movement appealing to the conscience of the Israeli silent majority would have delivered a Palestinian state 30 years ago, but they have rejected that strategy, too.

He sees some of the obvious, but misses the bigger point. The Israeli silent majority would never agree to the Pallie's basic demand, because that basic demand is that they all the Jews march into the sea. Or the ovens, whatever. A nonviolent Palestinian movement would never get all of the Jews to leave, and this is the only thing that the Pallies are interested in. They do not want an independent state alongside Israel. They want Israel. Any plan that does not recognize this basic fact is fantasy and doomed to failure.

[chachacha]

The only way you can win a war like this, is not one terrorist at a time but, by initiating pain upon the populous from whom the Suicide bombers are supposed to represent.

Japan was not dealt with one Kamakazi at a time. Sadly the populous was bombed into an awakening and they quickly learned the pain and suffering was not worth them supporting terror or the Kamakazi pilots.

This statement will surely awaken the liberal eyeballs who surf this site and they will again start the bleeding for an unjust surrender. This terror if not beaten by the free World will be in your neighborhood sooner than you think.

This is the difference between then and now! Wake up America!

[tet68]

"Today in flower,
tomorrow scattered by the wind.
Such is our blossom life,
how can we think it's fragrance lasts forever."

The way of the Samuri is found in death. Hagakuri