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| "Targeted Killing" of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi | ||
| 2006-06-14 | ||
As the civilized world justly celebrates the long overdue killing of Abu M al-Zarqawi, it must recall that his death was brought about by what has come to be known as "targeted assassination" or "targeted killings." This is the same technique that has been repeatedly condemned by the international community when Israel has employed it against terrorists who have murdered innocent Jews. When Israel targeted the two previous heads of Hamas, the British foreign secretary said: "targeted killings of this kind are unlawful and unjustified." The same views expressed at the United Nations and by several European heads of state. It was also expressed by various Human Rights organizations. Now Great Britain is applauding the targeted killing of a terrorist who endangered its soldiers and citizens. What is the difference, except that Israel can do no right in the eyes of many in the international community. Surely there is no real difference between Zarqawi on the one hand and terrorist leaders from Hamas and Islamic Jihad on the other hand. If it is argued that Sheik Yassin was merely a spiritual leader of Hamas (a total lie since he explicitly authorized numerous terrorist acts), then it must be noted that one of the people targeted by the United States was Sheik Abd-al-Rahman, who was also described as a "spiritual advisor." When the United States and British forces have engaged in targeted killings of terrorists, there have often been collateral deaths of non terrorists, as there apparently were in this instance as well. The military announced preliminary findings that a woman and a child were among the dead. Collateral deaths are inevitable when terrorists hide among civilians and use them as shields. Both Israel and the United States make great efforts to reduce the number of collateral deaths and injuries but they do not always succeed. I applaud the targeted killing of Al Zarqawi. His death will save many innocent lives. But I also applaud the targeted killings of anti-Israel terrorists whose deaths save numerous lives. All decent people must insist on a single standard of judging tactics such as targeted killing. It is nothing short of bigotry to approve this tactic when used by the United States and Great Britain but to condemn it when it is used by Israel.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #6 Can alleged asymmetric "People's War of Resistance" against US "imperialism", terrorism, and bellicosity > simul also a Regional-Global Radical Islamist-Iranian Revol War for Empire??? IONews, SPACEWAR.com reports that US official believe Zark's successor MAJAHER is also AL-MASRI, an Eqyptian and Zarkey's right hand man. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-06-14 23:09 |
| #5 Targeted killings are bad.....but only if you miss the target. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-06-14 21:11 |
| #4 no need for nukes AP - a 250 lb JDAM guided chunk of concrete (or better yet blue "ice" from a jetliner toilet) would do the trick |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-06-14 19:49 |
| #3 When a leader specifically issues threats against the safety of your country and the lives of its citizens, you take them seriously or you dismiss them as just looney talk. If you ever had a threat against your person or your family, then you assume the worst and plan for it. When someone like Adminidajad of Iran, or any Mad Mullah goes public on TV, recruits suicide bombers and/or calls on people to kill your country's citizens, then, as far as I am concerned, it is an act of war. The question is: what is the response? It must be appropriate. My suggestion is that the perpetrators and instigators of the threat or actual violence are fair game and a legitimate target. They also have to realize that they are targets NO MATTER WHERE THEY WILL BE. That means that hiding in an apartment complex is not going to save them. People around them must realize that they are putting themselves at risk by being around this terrorist target. A few of these targeted assassinations and people around the world will realize that the civilized world means business. They will start treating these instigators like lepers. The instigators will also realize that THEY AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES will also be targets. That should put an end to most of it. There is no way to be nice about this business. However, it must be kept in mind that violence instigated must be appropriate and measured. So put your nukes away, folks, at least for now. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-06-14 18:48 |
| #2 "removal of terrorist leaders is either okay, or it isn't" it iz. ima win. /channeling muck4doo |
| Posted by: Angolung Thoter3849 2006-06-14 13:17 |
| #1 I'm always suprised where Anti-Israeli sentiment raises it's ugly head. I always assumed, quite mistakenly, that there was alot more sympathy toward the Israeli's problems. I guess I was wrong. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-06-14 13:14 |