I expect that Arafat will be next. Here's why -- yesterday, the

[lindashaw]

spokesman for Israel said that they were only going after our "bin Laden." If we think Arafat is safe because he is an elected official, Israel can say, "Well, you took out Aristide. We can take out Arafat."

I recommend the book "Word Politics: Verbal Strategy Among the Superpowers." Its premise is that our invasion of Guatemala in '54 was the reason Russia gave for its invasion of Czechoslovakia.

[aprilgirl]

1. Perhaps the Palestinians will be going after "their bin Laden?"

The very idea that Israel has a right to kill and terrorize whomever they want, grab the land and resources, bulldoze people and homes, schools, and businesses and than claim that the Palestinians want to destroy Israel while the rest of the world stands by and does nothing is astonishing to me. And to call whatever the Palestinians do to defend themselves and their land and homes and families "terrorism" is even more astonishing. Had the holocaut never happened would the world condone this behavior by a so-called democracy? Jews are not the only people who have been totured, purscueted, and killed in history. And why are the Palestinians being punished for what the Germans did during the holocaust? Why didn't Jews, especially the European Jews get a piece of Germany as a homeland? This ME situation and our blind support of any and all actions by Israel really sucks and the world will remain inflamed because of it.

[Manwithchildeyes]

2. whatever the Palestinians do to defend themselves

Blowing up busses full of kids is not doing anything to "defend themselves" it is terrorism plain and simple. It can't be excused or allowed to continue.

[Muddleoftheroad]

3. Yassin was a terrorist

Hamas is a terrorist organization. So is Fatah. So is al Aqsa. So is Hezbollah.

Hell, one of Arafat's own was quoted in the Post today threatening all Israel "on deathrow."

Yeah, they're the good guys.

Not.

[emmjay]

5. Sharon was/is a terrorist as well.

These organizations did not form out of thin air for no reason. While all terrorism is abhorent, what the Israeli government has been doing to the Palestinians is no different. There is no comparison between the weaponry that the two sides possess. Not to mention having US support.

Going into neighborhoods and killing many, many innocent civilians under the guise of going after terrorist leaders is unacceptable. How do we know these people are guilty? Because the Israeli gov't says so? Have trials become irrelevant?

What if the FBI came into an American neighborhood and blew up a couple of extra homes under the guise that a terrorist lived on the block? This behavior is deplorable for a democratic State. They should be better than that.

[FlaGranny]

6. There are no "good" guys -

both sides have been killing each other, tit for tat, for 50 years. There doesn't seem to be anyone around with brains enough to stop it, either. This killing will only escalate the problem and retaliation will continue to be the order of the day. Maybe it's a plan to keep down the population. One might think there was some ulterior motive on both sides. I don't know what that motive might be, but SOMEONE must be gaining something from the slaughter on BOTH sides.

[Broadslidin]

4. Just Another U.S. sponsored Terrorist State?

With the long history of continuous killing
and the 37 year illegal occupation,
I wonder when it will be "OK" to label Israel
just another U.S. sponsored terrorist state?