Posted on 11/13/2004 12:17:31 AM PST by miltonim
McMINNVILLE, Ore. (BP)--“Terrorism is the deliberate and systematic murder, maiming and menacing of the innocent to inspire fear for political ends,” Christopher C. Harmon writes in his book “Terrorism Today.” He continues, “That definition, proffered by analysts in 1979, has never been surpassed for clarity and concision.”
Next to the aforementioned definition of terrorism belongs the picture of the recently deceased Yasser Arafat. The enigmatic leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian Authority and Fatah was the embodiment of modern terrorism.
Harmon writes, “His [Arafat’s] power grew mainly from the barrel of a gun, a gun which was pointed at Israeli soldiers less often than it was at school busses, shoppers in Israeli public markets, innocent Arabs, foreign diplomats and international travelers.”
The following are but a few of the murderous exploits inspired by Arafat.
-- The Nahariya/Avivim school bus attack, May 1970. Palestinian terrorists crossed the border from Lebanon, ambushed the bus with a barrage of gunfire, murdered 12 children and three adults, and left several others crippled.
-- The Munich Olympics slaughter, in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed in September 1972.
-- The brutal murder of three U.S. diplomats held hostage in Khartoum, Sudan, in March 1973. The terrorists demanded the release of Sirhan Sirhan, the Palestinian assassin of Robert F. Kennedy. Arafat was recorded as having given the execution orders.
-- The Maalot massacre in May 1974. A school building was taken over while children from Tzfat on a school trip were sleeping there. Three teachers and 22 schoolchildren were killed.
-- The Coastal Road bus hijacking of March 1978. Eleven Fatah terrorists, who infiltrated by sea, killed a photographer and a taxi driver and hijacked a bus filled with adults and many children. The terrorists fired on passing cars from the bus, and when they were finally stopped, they began firing missiles. The massacre left 35 people dead and 100 injured.
-- The Achille Lauro hijacking of a cruise ship in October 1985, in which wheelchair-bound Leon Klinghoffer, 69, was shot and thrown overboard. Israeli intelligence later showed that the terrorists had been in contact with a Palestinian operative in Genoa, who in turn was in touch with PLO headquarters, then located in Tunis, for final instructions.
-- The suicide bombers who routinely attack innocent Israelis.
While Arafat refused responsibility for the terrorism committed by his underlings, only the most naive observers accepted his denials. Arafat shrewdly created fronts and clandestine sub-organizations in order to escape the international pressures his tactics created.
Interestingly enough, many reflecting on Arafat’s memory have chosen to ignore his terrorist tendencies. The United Nations is even flying flags at half-mast in tribute to his passing.
Among the world leaders who have offered fond recollections of Arafat:
-- President Jacques Chirac of France: “With him disappears the man of courage and conviction....”
-- Former South African President Nelson Mandela: He “was one of the outstanding freedom fighters of this generation....”
-- U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan: A U.N. statement noted that he was "deeply moved" by the death of Arafat, who "symbolized the national aspirations of the Palestinian people."
-- Chinese President Hu Jintao: He described Arafat as "a brilliant leader" and "a great friend" of China.
-- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter: He said Arafat was "a powerful human symbol and forceful advocate" who brought unity to the Palestinian pursuit of a homeland.
The numerous remembrances offered of Arafat show that author Henry David Thoreau was right when he observed, “The rarest quality in an epitaph is truth.”
Israeli cabinet minister Ehud Olmert offered the most honest words concerning Arafat’s death: “The Palestinian people's mourning is not ours -- we cannot grieve for someone who killed us and spilled our blood. But we respect our mourning neighbors....”
It seems the most poignant remembrance of Arafat was unintended. His funeral service ended with a military procession, his wooden coffin borne on a horse-drawn gun carriage. While a military carriage is a common element of state funerals, it seemed to provide a particularly fitting and symbolic final transport for Arafat, the embodiment of modern terrorism.
Go figure it was those leaders that had nice things to say about Arafat.
Carter - this man must be the poster boy for the cheese eating American Protestants (the 30%) that didn't vote for George Bush. A leftist Christian. I can't even imgaine what goes through his mind. I knew some Christians that possibly had his mindset. They thought that America should forgive the terrorists. I guess the pacifist arm of the Christian Community. Must be the Christian hangover from the 60s. Those Christians should have stopped with civil rights. They got caught up in the amoral peace movement of the 60s and are carrying around WORLDY values - not Christian ones.
Anyone who calls him/herself a "Christian" yet gives Arafat any kind of legitimacy isn't a "Christian" of any sort. Arafat was nothing but a terrorist with one goal in mind, the goal passed on to him by Hussaini and his mentor Adolph Hitler, and that was the elimination of all Jews.
Make no mistake that if the followers of the Islamic cult are ever successful in their 'allah' inspired directive, that Christians, buddists, Hindu's, athiests, in short anyone who isn't a devote Muslim is next on the list. Those cultists don't need to follow that list in order either, but the one who kills the last Jew in the ME will have a certain amount of historical honor bestowed apon them.
As the Koran says, (Qur’an 8:7) “Allah wished to confirm the truth by His words: ‘Wipe the infidels out to the last.’” (Qur’an 8:39) “So, fight them till all opposition ends and the only religion is Islam.” Ishaq:204 “‘Men, do you know what you are pledging yourselves to in swearing allegiance to this man?’ ‘Yes. In swearing allegiance to him we are pledging to wage war against all mankind.’”
Ishaq:471 “We are steadfast trusting Him. We have a Prophet by whom we will conquer all men.”
Anyone who believes that "Palestinians", a non-existing people, a "culture" that never was, a land that never existed, are fighting because they have been displaced somehow, has bought into the biggest lie of the 20th century. It's simply a fabrication to legitimize the extermination of the Jews out of the M.E.
One should not say things bad against a dead man. At this point he faces judgment from his Creator. I don't think he will get his 75 virgins.
Koran's prime directive is to emulate the exemplary life of Muhammad. It's a monkey see, monkey do religion
I respectfully disagree. A dead, evil man remains a bad example to all. The fawning over Public Enemy Number One is what is shameful, not those voices like this author, the fellow at NRO (MacFarlane?), and Jeff Jacoby of the Boston Globe who call down condemnation and contumely on the head of this evil, evil, vicious troll of a man.
Here is my prayer for his soul: may God damn him eternally to hell.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18G
Why not? Besides Arafat is not a man, he is a religious symbol of a death cult.
As a man he was a homosexual embezeler who majored in mass murder.
I completely agree with you. To be fair these Christians I spoke of are simply ignorant. Too many Christians do not know on iota about what is going on in the ME, so are vulnerable to believe whatever the media tells them. Poor naive idiots.
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