ONCE A TERRORIST . . .
NEW YORK POST
Editorial
November 28, 2005
Last week's attempt by the Lebanese Hezbollah to raid two military out posts and kidnap Israeli soldiers along the border — the worst clash there in five years — is a sobering lesson for those who insist that the best way to disarm terrorists is to welcome them into the political process.
Hezbollah, after all, is a part of the Lebanese government, having won seats in the last parliamentary election. And many now argue that Hamas should be allowed to participate in Palestinian elections — rather than being forcibly disarmed. Some even think terrorists in Iraq should be enticed to join the system there.
Making terrorists part of mainstream politics — thus giving them a stake in the local government — is the way to induce them to give up their arms. Or so goes the argument, anyway.
The notion is gaining favor in Washington, where the Bush administration disagrees with Israel's position that Hamas should be barred from fielding candidates in the next Palestinian elections.
Hmm. If turning a terrorist group into a political party is the path to disarmament, what accounts for Hezbollah's continued, and increasing, terror attacks?
The answer, of course, is that terrorists can't be tamed. Welcoming them inside the tent will only embolden those committed to violence — and threaten the long-term viability of governments.
Meanwhile, Lebanon is under U.N. orders to disarm Hezbollah; to date, it has refused. And the Palestinian Authority has ignored its own signed commitment to forcibly disarm Hamas and other terrorist groups. No move has been made to force either country to comply.
Indeed, were it not for U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, the Security Council wouldn't even have held Hezbollah responsible for the latest outrage.
Bolton, refreshing face that he is, deserves credit.
Yet it remains disturbing that, according to Israel, U.N. troops in Lebanon were told several weeks ago of the planned Hezbollah attack — but took no action to stop it.
And equally disturbing that the world body's resolution remains largely toothless when it comes to actually ridding the world of terrorism.
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