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It was heartbreaking to find out about the death of Rachel Corrie run over by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza. What is troubling about it is that a young woman with a fiery personality would travel to a combat zone to put her and others in a very dangerous situation. What was Rachel Corrie doing in front of a bulldozer in Gaza from all places? Israel is an American ally and an American passport does insure a preferential treatment in that country. Unfortunately, when the bullets are flying it is hard to check the identity of a person. Our president, George W. Bush, has said that in a war “some unintended casualties are inevitable”.

Gaza is the hotbed for the Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, etc. terrorists, homicide bombers that perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The demolition of houses, as unfortunate as it is, happens to be a necessary deterrent in the conflict against the terrorists. America has gone halfway across the world to fight the terrorist evil. Israel is fighting that evil right in her own backyard. It is known that Israel gives the civilians residing in the buildings an advance notice. The innocent Israeli and even some American citizens who were blown up into pieces by the homicide Palestinian Arab terrorists did not get such notices. The Palestinian Arab leadership has integrated the killings of the innocent civilians into their strategy to defeat and destroy Israel. This is a conflict that is being waged not just on the battlefield but also in the media. In fact, it is expected that Iraq will do exactly the same.

Activism is great! However, it must be combined with a good common sense of reality. Just because Israel is a democratic, open society with more reporters per square mile than any other place on this planet, is no guarantee of safety when one departs for Gaza, the hub of the Hamas terrorists.

There are many other troubled spots in the world like Chechnya, the Indian province of Kashmir, Columbia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Somalia, etc., that require the activists’ attention. However, the networks cannot afford the liability insurance rates that are required to sent the reporters in there. Consequently, the reporting from such places is limited and does not generate the strong emotions.

The late Rachel Corrie had great and honorable intentions. Unfortunately she channeled them in the wrong direction.