Bomb in Rishon L'tsion...too close for comfort

[Gordon Fitch]

Bryan Atinsky wrote:
> >So, the fact that this bombing took place during Sharon's 'victory' 
> >meeting with Bush, after Sharon's government has been boasting how 
> >they have taken a big bite out of the 'Palestinian terrorist 
> >infrastructure', and in a location that was symbolically considered 
> >one of the last vestiges of a secure haven in Israel (not to mention 
> >that Rishon L'tsion means 'First to Zion' and is one of the first 
> >Zionist yishuvim, established in 1882, I think), this 
> >attack definitely makes the point that Israeli military actions 
> >against the Palestinian people has done nothing to make the Israeli 
> >people more secure -- the opposite is true, Sharon has made it so no 
> >Israeli can feel any security at all.

Doug Henwood:
> But that won't be the conclusion drawn, will it? Won't this be an 
> excuse for another offensive?

Let us assume that Palestinians are as smart as we are.  Then
that must be the desired effect.  Certainly, suicidal terror
bombing cannot be expected to give its targets the impression
that their enemies can be dealt with on a basis of reason and
compromise.  Nor are such acts aimed against the substantial
military force or economy of the target.  As asymmetrical war,
their aim has to be to destroy the enemy spiritually, by
provoking the enemy to act in such a way that they and their
friends cease to believe good of themselves, their actions,
and their future.  Even the atrociousness of the acts of the
suicide bombers will begin to taint them: "This is what you
made of us."  And Israel is especially vulnerable to this kind
of attack because of the ideological way it was constituted.
This is one war I think they are losing, and it is hard to see
how they can get out of the trap.

-- Gordon