I have no objection to immediate retributive response. In fact, it is a necessary part of the strategy of deception. Sure, go ahead, rain missiles on Afghanistan; it will make us feel good. Kill bin Laden if we can, kill as many top Taleban leaders as we can, wipe out their derisory military capacity.
Of course we will not do anything to our real target, which is the functional network that makes the terrorist attacks happen. They will not be affected because they are not in Afghanistan, or in any other place that we can bomb. But at least they will have a good laugh, which will make them complacent, and make them think they have weathered our best shot.
Then the real work would start.
I will not argue with you on the Israel question, beyond pointing out that while they, and possibly you, consider their use of terror tactics legitimate or necessary, there is no doubt that they have in fact employed terrorism as an instrument of state policy. They are not alone in this regard. You may have the last word on this; I think I shall fade back into silence now, having said all that I have to say on this question. |
