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Targets of Opportunity

© lawhawk

This week the news reports that the Israelis successfully targeted and killed five terrorists before they managed to detonate themselves and their cargo in civilian areas - and kill untold numbers of Israeli citizens. The US deplored this action and called on the Israelis to stop targeting terrorists (although the US does not call the individuals who conduct the attacks as such).

Israel has an absolute right to defend itself from attacks, both domestic and foreign. Every country on the planet has this right. Israel knows that these individuals were within hours of conducting attacks and took the preemptive action to prevent a greater loss of life. Does the US condone the actions of the terrorists? Should Israel be forced to endure tragic loss of life of civilians just to show the world that it can turn the other cheek when those very countries that request Israel to refrain from attacking would do so in a heartbeat.

Instead of leaning hard on the Palestinian Authority to stop all acts of violence (zero tolerance approach), the US has engaged in a wait and see approach that permits low level violence to continue ad infinitum. The only winner in that approach is Chairman Arafat who can claim that he's doing his best while snickering as more Israeli civilians (and Palestinians who blindly follow extremist rants of glory in killing Israelis) die.

In the past, the Israelis have been denounced for striking at the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq (1981) although the rest of the world (and many of the Arab nations that border Iraq) were thankful years later when Iraq showed its true intentions by occupying Kuwait and warring with Iran for years on end. Attacking the terrorist masterminds may not win public approval in many corners of the world, but those critics win something more. They win freedom from terrorist acts.

Terrorists will always have safe havens. Some people use the religious fervor and political views to bring in new recruits. They think that nations cannot strike at them with impunity because they are not like other nations - a terrorist cell can be as few as two people. How do you use military might to strike at two people? Israeli intelligence and military forces have shown it is possible. In return, they have saved numerous lives by striking in deterrence and self defense.

Terrorists strike at targets of opportunity. They look to find places where people congregate and high-profile areas that will make for great press. Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem, Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, bus stations in both cities are frequent targets of the largest terrorist attacks. Israel recognizes the threat by keeping its bomb squads on 24 hour alert - going out actively to search for and prevent attacks. Preventing attacks include stopping the terrorists before they have a chance to set their weapons in place. Here, the Israelis are hitting their targets of opportunity - terrorists who seek to do nothing but harm to anothers.

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