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If Dick Cheney can keep going with heart problems, I don't see Yasser Arafat dropping dead any time soon. The guy is nothing if he isn't a survivor.

I admit he has millions of our dollars, but he isn't exactly at the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins. If he is having serious heart problems, his days are numbered. By looking at him I would guess he should have sought treatment some time ago. It just wasn't convenient then or now.

I would never wish pain even on Arafat, but at least this might eliminate the martyr effect to a degree. Knowing Israeli intelligence as I do, they probably knew details for weeks. The threats to take him out, the buzzing of his compound, the armored jeeps zipping around Ramalla, maybe just to push him over the edge?

Even if Israel HAD "taken him out" the outrage would have been manageable. Everyone from the US to Osama would condemn the act. Then they all would quietly retire for brandy, cigars, touchdown dances and high fives.