Neil,

There are some points which need clarification and definition in this discussion.

Historians are not always accurate. They view 'facts' from their own perspective.

My point about terrorist acts commited by Israelis (it would be difficult to find widespread agreement in Israel that the IDF is terrorist, however you would find agreement that there have been terrorist acts committed by citizens, certain soldiers, and settlers; and this too may be argued), is that they are not punished as *harshly* as 'palestinian terrorist acts'.
Why do I make the distinction between those who recognize Israeli terrorism and those who do not? Because you cannot reach the second group except on their own terms.


The actions of the IDF are the actions of a "tool" as you so aptly put it. What is the job?
To secure the state of Israel or to terrorize Palestinians? There are factions of the Israeli military which speak openly of the targeting of civilians, though it is not widely reported here. This is not disimilar from the actions of the 'tools' used against Palestinians by Arab states, of which Jordan 1970 is a particularly terrible example, and of course Lebanon 1882 where the blame is shared. This is not disimilar from the actions of most, if not all, nation states as they 'develop'. As the saying goes, "nation states are built on piles of corpses". This I do not condone.


Yes war is terrorism and it is terrifying. No one plays by the 'rules' when at war.
The Laina Farhat-Holzmans are terrified and will always claim that this is the way to deal with "Islamic fundementalists". Her support of the US military is wrapped up in the fact that they are pointing their weapons at her biggest fears. She sees nothing beyond that.