-Caveat Lector- >From Sierra Times (URL @ bottom)
}}}>Begin Israeli Conflict: Defining Terrorism By J.J. Johnson Published 04. 9. 02 at 10:32 Sierra Time xxx It was fascinating to read the responses to my last two commentaries about the Middle-East mess. The opinions ran across the political spectrum. Now that the situation is escalating (in the midst of an Israeli pullout?), what seems to lead the debate is exactly ‘who’ are the terrorists in the Middle East. Few people seem to have noticed that I was very careful not to use the word ‘terrorist’ or ‘terrorism’ in my latest articles. Explaining the reason for that may help some of you understand this conflict. For those debating which side I’ve taken in the matter, the answer is simple: I am on America’s side. But in the heated debate over this age-old problem, that isn’t good enough for most folks, and attempting to be a neutral observer in the mess only gets me painted as anti-American from both sides! People insist that the Palestinians OR the Israelis must be the only terrorists. As I have written before, the label itself bothers me. "Terrorism" had previously been defined as: “The (actual or threatened) use of force against civilians or government by groups or individuals to achieve political or social goals.” Read that statement carefully, and you’ll see that this defines the military force of any nation. To put it simply, ‘terrorism’ has become an ambiguous term – used by western nations to label anyone who disagrees with its policies, and uses violence or force to back up such beliefs. We now hear constantly that this country and Israel are in a “War against Terror”, while they criticize Arab nations for continued support of "terrorism". “Terrorism” means you can declare war against a concept or idea without the difficulties that arise when declaring war against a nation or people. “Terrorism” gives you an open-ended blessing to conduct war on your own terms, leaving your enemies no means to justify their response to your actions. “Terrorism” means you can invoke civilian law enforcement and then pass laws under the false impression that the passage of such law is a deterrent to terrorism, while actually damaging further the rule of law. “Terrorism” is now used in place of “war” to justify the expansion of government power, and as an excuse to wage war against a nation while keeping the "enemy" government in place. I believe using the words ‘terror’, ‘terrorist’, and ‘terrorism’ is a weakness of the West. Fighting a so-called ‘war on terrorism’ virtually insures that the enemy will never be defeated, but justifies continuing hostilities. If this war continues to be defined only as against ‘terrorism’, we will lose, and the so- called ‘terrorists’ will win. Why? Because our enemies consider it war. Period. Which brings us back to Israel. To the world, the Israeli army is being labeled as extreme, genocidal, and even "terrorist" for their present actions in the occupied areas. Israel states that they will leave the areas once the ‘network of terror’ has been crushed. But who determines when that happens? The methods of the Jewish nation, while frightening to many, are an effective way of dealing with the hostile actions they face daily. (Also known to many as "terrorism"). As I said to the Palestinians before: “How does it feel to be targeted for death?”, and to Israel: “...don’t stop shooting until you reach the Jordan River”. This is exactly what Israel is doing, and for the time being, they are making progress in winning the war. Like it or not, Israel currently is waging a real WAR – the kind waged by the U.S. in Europe in the 1940’s. But when they say that they will ‘pull back’ and will be willing to ‘negotiate’ they have admited that they either don’t have the courage to win, or they (and the west) have forgotten what war really is all about. This is where Israel is showing its weakness. “We want peace”. “We want a Palestinian State with secure borders for Israel”. “We just want the ‘terror’ to stop”. Sorry folks, not good enough. In the old days, attacks such as Israel has faced would lead to the land base of the attacker becoming the sovereign territory of the winner – after a war was waged to completely vanquish the enemy. Does the phrase ‘unconditional surrender’ ring a bell? But although Israel could do just that in a few weeks, (as demonstrated several years ago) they will pull back now, leaving all the motivation in place for their enemies to regroup. There is no reason for their enemy to completely surrender because they know they can’t be crushed – since the government of the United States will always come to the rescue of Israel’s enemies! Of course, there are plenty of you ready to hit that feedback button now, screaming about what Israel has done to the Palestinians – as proven by those gruesome photos by the journalists on the scene. Reality Check: This is war – not terrorism. Those sending children dressed in bombs to Israel have almost the same effect as sending bombs on a war machine. One side uses expensive aircraft to deliver their ordinance, the other uses disposable humans. Both sides have targeted and destroyed military and civilian targets. The difference is that one side says they will pull back, while the other (already showing their disrespect for their own lives) will continue their battle. Now, let’s look at America’s “War on Terrorism”. We’ve given billions of dollars in aid, dropped food into Afghanistan, and even forgave a major debt owed by Pakistan. Yet there are still bad guys out there taking aim at our troops on the ground. Frankly, I think it is an insult to call them "terrorists". You put warriors in a war zone – and don’t expect them to get shot at? As of now, we only show off our military hardware, personnel, and make noise in front of the United Nations if we are attacked. What if we resorted to the old ‘white boy’ policy of “attack us, and you lose your territory, sovereignty and even culture in a very violent and indiscriminate fashion”? I think those disposable, faceless, blameless warriors might quickly consider another career option. Think about it. Do we spend any time worried about Japanese kamikaze pilots any more? That didn’t happen because of some endless ‘peace process’. It ended when the nation sponsoring them realized that they might soon become extinct if they persisted. In the case of Germany and Italy, it was complete destruction of the regime – followed by occupation - and complete capitulation of the armies that ended the war with a clear winning side. But after September 11, we send emissaries to the host nations of such kamikaze pilots asking for their cooperation – not demanding their ‘unconditional surrender’. You see, these days the old war horses are few and far between. The United States printed millions of copies of the “Improvised Munitions Handbook”, taught insurgents from around the world to conduct covert, guerilla operations, and then screams ‘terrorism’ when it comes back to bite us. This is where American policy puts us at peril - as well as Israel, so long as they hitch themselves to the American self destruction juggernaut. Being the good guy is fine, but when it comes to war – we should remove the words ‘negotiation’, ‘retaliation’, even ‘terrorism' and call it exactly what it is: ‘war’. Then, when we declare WAR, it is clear that everyone in that nation is a combatant, and we do whatever needs to be done until hostilities cease. Ask Russia and Chechnya – it works. As more evidence comes to light about Islamic attitudes toward the United States, America should have a long term goal of taxing every barrel of oil that leaves that region of the world if we’re not pumping it out ourselves. America and Israel are currently showing their weakness by allowing national leaders to offer money to families for suicide bombers, and knowingly harboring the organizers and sponsors. Forget the Bush Doctrine – Here’s the Johnson Doctrine: Turn your people into weapons of mass destruction against us, and it shall not be considered an “Act of Terrorism”, but an “Act of War”, and War shall be waged against you until you surrender or the world will soon forget that your country and your culture ever existed. But then again, that’s just my opinion. © Permission to reprint/republish granted, as long as you include the name of our site, the author, and our URL. www.SierraTimes.com All Sierra Times news reports, and all editorials are © 2002 SierraTimes.com (unless otherwise noted) SierraTimes.com™ A Subsidiary of J.J. Johnson Enterprises, Inc. http://www.sierratimes.com/02/04/09/jjjohnson.htm End<{{{ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." --- Ernest Hemingway <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
