Former McCain-Palin campaign spokesman and current Weekly Standard editor Michael Goldfarb notes that Israel, a couple of days ago, dropped a 2,000-pound bomb on a Gazan home which killed a top Hamas leader . . . in addition to 18 others, including his four wives and nine of his children.If you do it, it's terrorism. If I do it, it's heroic and patriotic defense of my country.
[snip]
There are few concepts more elastic and subject to exploitation than "Terrorism," the all-purpose justifying and fear-mongering term. But if it means anything, it means exactly the mindset which Goldfarb is expressing: slaughtering innocent civilians in order to "send a message," to "deter" political actors by making them fear that continuing on the same course will result in the deaths of civilians and -- best of all, from the Terrorist's perspective -- even their own children and other family members.
To the Terrorist, by definition, that innocent civilians and even children are killed isn't a regrettable cost of taking military action. It's not a cost at all. It's a benefit. It has strategic value. Goldfarb explicitly says this: "to wipe out a man's entire family, it's hard to imagine that doesn't give his colleagues at least a moment's pause."
That, of course, is the very same logic that leads Hamas to send suicide bombers to slaughter Israeli teenagers in pizza parlors and on buses and to shoot rockets into their homes. It's the logic that leads Al Qaeda to fly civilian-filled airplanes into civilian-filled office buildings. And it's the logic that leads infinitely weak and deranged people like Goldfarb and Peretz to find value in the killing of innocent Palestinians, including -- one might say, at least in Goldfarb's case: especially -- children.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
How to justify terrorism
Which comes in many forms:
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6 comments:
Hamas is a militant, terrorist organization. There is no disputing this fundamental fact. But, what many people fail to realize is that Hamas is more than just a fringe terrorist organization. They are the governing body of Gaza. They control social services, schools, hospitals, etc. Furthermore, they are the military force of the Palestinian people in Gaza. I hope there is no debate in any of these claims.
Now, you assert that Israel is committing terrorist attacks by bombing the home of a major Hamas leader. But, among its many definitions, is not terrorism the intentional targeting of civilians? Nizar Rayyan was no civilian, but up until that time, the most senior Hamas offical to be killed in the fighting. Rayyan knew of the danger he was placing both himself, and more importantly, his wives and children in by remaining in his home. While the rest of Hamas' leadership is currently underground hiding under civilian homes, schools, and hospitals, he chose to submit himself and his family to the ranks of martyrdom. And as we know, he was successful. Enraged by the news of his death, fighters launched a flurry of rockets into Israel. Thus, he was successful in his aim of mobilizing the Palestinian militants to fight.
And trust me, Israelis take no pride in the death of Palestinian civilians. IDF soldiers go through extensive training to avoid civilians in times of combat, a task made all the more difficult by Hamas fighters who would unflinchingly use a Palestinian child as a human shield.
This post was in reaction to the salivating hand-rubbing delight that Michael Goldfarb was showing over the slaughter of a terrorist/freedom fighter and his family.
Yes, I know that Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization. In fighting a ground war with a vastly superior force, one hides in the innocent civilian population. There are few other options.
That said, Israel may have won this battle, but lost the war with the world. Small children left for hours with the bodies of their parents? Horrific phosphorous wounds that won't heal? The massive destruction of Gazan infrastructure?
How are the Gazan Palestinians supposed to live normally? A man recently told a story of being forced to cast aside a bouquet of flowers at a check point, that he could not take them through. It's the little things that dehumanize, that start the embers of hatred burning deep in people's hearts. What do you think this anger does to people?
Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan.... Israel is surrounded by hostiles. The constant fear of being annihilated must start the embers of hatred burning deep in people's hearts.
Israelis are making the Palestinians suffer. The Palestinians retaliate. The Israelis suffer. The embers burn.
Killing and bombing is only going to fuel the embers. Rejoicing over deaths and causing more throws gasoline on them. The horrific Israeli/Palestinian problem will never be solved. They will be locked together in a murderous embrace forever.
Until the killing stops.
One day Israeli occupation will end and one day the Palestinian people will be free from violence with Israel. But will Palestine ever really be free? What would be the replacement for Israeli occupation?
Allow me to quote an article from the Victor Davis Hanson website:
"The character of the future government of Palestine will resemble, depending on the outcome of the impending civil war, lawlessness or theocratic tyranny, or something in between, the only certainty being an oppression rooted in Arafat’s long and corrupt tenure. Palestinian society reflects the same blend of corruption, gender apartheid, religious intolerance and conspiratorialism that has left the region impoverished and shackled."
Just googling Victor Davis Hanson shows there's not much respect for his historical analysis. So how does Hanson know all this about Palestine? How can he see into the future? And besides, the fact he supported the Eternal War on a Noun makes anything he says suspect.
And why on earth are you quoting him here? What are you trying to say? The Palestinians are a waste of space? They are not worth worrying about? That they will never amount to anything?
They have the capacity for great goodness and great evil. They are human beings. Just like us. Nothing else needs to be said.
Of course they are human beings capable of good and evil and of course they are not "a waste of space." I understand that and lament the loss of human, civilian life.
What I was referring to was not the people, but the political structure. The social and political makeup of the Palestinian people is one rooted in ancient Islamic culture and simply can't compete with modern, advanced civilization. That is why the Palestinian people will never be free, especially under their former and current leadership.
And to clarify, I quoted an article, not by Mr. Hanson, but by Joseph Tartakovsky, as he was able to put into words my beliefs better than I could myself.
I certainly do not intend to cause you to go on the defensive. I am simply presenting theories and facts. I invite you to answer my originally posed question.
If Israeli occupation were to end, do you believe the Palestinian people will ever really be free?
Thank you for such a nicely worded post. And I apologize for my knee-jerk defensive posture, eight years of instinctive ducking...
What I was referring to was not the people, but the political structure. The social and political makeup of the Palestinian people is one rooted in ancient Islamic culture and simply can't compete with modern, advanced civilization. That is why the Palestinian people will never be free, especially under their former and current leadership.
I do not have knowledge of any real depth of the ancient Islamic culture, but when you refer to modern advanced civilization, who do you mean? The US that just invaded and occupied a nation without cause, bombing with depleted uranium and contaminating the earth? Israel, who has reduced a people to cowering on the edge of the coast and using white phosphorous in their attacks? That kind of civilized?
Ancient Islamic culture? The one that invented algebra and medicine? Or are you referring to their technique of stoning adulterous women?
But skipping the qualifications of a modern advanced civilization, let me address your question: If Israeli occupation were to end, do you believe the Palestinian people will ever really be free?
Kind of like asking a rape victim, if we locked up the rapist, would she go back to her 'normal' self. The answer is no.
But it doesn't mean they shouldn't be given the chance. Perhaps the generations of Palestinians to come who saw justice and fairness employed would begin to think life was worth living. If you can't fix the generation who suffered, do it for the generations to come.
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