Don't Kill Arafat: A Real Solution
By Irwin N. Graulich (04/30/04)
A promise is a promise. If Ariel Sharon indeed gave his scout's honor to President Bush not to kill "the inventor of modern terrorism," then Sharon must surely keep his word and continue to protect Arafat.
Is it worth the effort to rid the world of this "architect of modern terror," when Israel already has him under virtual house arrest? Although the word is that he will become a "great martyr" in death, who was the last political leader killed who actually attained such an elite status?
The Islamic world has quickly forgotten martyred leaders with names like Nidal, Al-Makadmah, al Qassam, Karmi, Shikalki, Sali, Uday and Quasay, the dead al Qaeda leaders, et al, who have merely become part of "the garbage heap of history." The only terrorists whose pictures and memories are still paraded throughout the fundamentalist Middle East and beyond are the likes of Barghouti, Saddam and bin Laden. It is precisely because these "heroes" are still alive that they are considered martyrs.
Attention George Bush and all other Western leaders who love democracy, goodness and freedom. You have it all wrong. "Kill the martyr and you destroy the martyrdom!"
Much of Europe and the American left is actually afraid of the Arab/Muslim street and its reaction, because their primary concern is not right and wrong. It is keeping angry, irrational people calm, so that they will not burn our flags or threaten us with terrorism. The liberal/left mentality wants to be "loved," or at least liked, while sitting in coffee shops discussing Marx, Nietzsche and Heidegger.
It is much more important for the Islamic world to fear us. Why should anyone even care about being liked by people with such horrendous values. If winning over their passions means caving into decency, why bother? It should be so obvious that highly moral nations should support a tiny democracy called Israel over nations that are totalitarian, autocratic, consider women chattel, suppress all other religions, lie in their press, imprison and kill homosexuals, and seem to be naturally anti-American and antisemitic. The world must not treat both sides equally, when one side is so very wrong and morally corrupt.
Support of the Jewish State seems obvious to George W. Bush, but difficult for the likes of Jacques Chirac, Gerhart Schroeder, much of the EU and most Scandinavian countries. Although Churchill and Roosevelt are spinning in their graves, Hitler is probably re-saluting the French and their followers amidst the flames of hell.
So how does Israel honor a promise and still do the right thing? How about this for an innovative, non-military, compassionate solution. Don't kill Arafat; capture him. Send a special forces IDF team with their stun grenades and seizure tactics to snatch Yasser for trial. The creative part of the solution would be his unique detention facility.
Since the world will be watching this case more carefully than the Nuremberg Trials, Israel must keep the good Chairman in a totally open environment. Otherwise, the pr savvy PA will take a page from the fictitious "Jenin Massacre" playbook and invent some new Israeli torture tactics performed on this poor old "innocent" man.
Therefore, Israel must select the largest, most comfortable lion's cage, which would be set up in the lovely Tel Aviv Zoo, so that Mr. Arafat gets a nice view and continuous fresh air. This open air pen with steel bars and "a fence" in front of it, would contain a complete office and sleeping quarters, so that the world can witness his wonderful treatment. With a minimum of 100 cable tv channels including al-Jazeera and a high speed cable modem, his amenities would certainly be a whole lot better than any captured Israeli has ever received, or for that matter any person jailed in an Arab country.
The PA leader could meet in full public view with his sophisticated French attorney, Jacques Verges, on the way to meeting his other "moral" client, Saddam Hussein. Human Rights Watch and the ACLU could be stationed there 24 hours a day to insure proper treatment under international law.
This brand new incarceration scenario is not just some clever emotional fantasy or satirical editorial suggestion. It is a very real, well thought out solution to allow an overly concerned world the ability to monitor Israel's actions. It remains a mystery why the UN and most countries never seem to be distressed about the genocide in the Sudan or Rwanda, the death squads in Syria and Iran, the human rights abuses in North Korea and China, etc.
Nevertheless, Chirac, Schroeder and Kofi Anan will be overjoyed to learn that the Palestinian "leader" will be getting his 3 decent square meals a day. In addition, think of all the fresh fruits, vegetables and candy bars that many concerned visitors will bring to toss into his "special facility" with love.
Imagine what this idea will do for the Israeli tourism industry? The man who was most responsible for destroying visits to the Holy Land would now be instrumental in "resurrecting" it. This area definitely needs another resurrection, the way things are going! How many millions of additional visitors will come to view this spectacle in support or opposition?
Zoo admissions alone would probably create a new GNP category. Hotels and restaurants would be filled once again with people who wish to see this new "wonder of the world," the so-called freedom fighter who somehow refuses to die. A man who has spent his entire career leading a people into oblivion and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. After 40 years of Arafat's leadership, the "state" of Palestinians is actually quite horrendous.
Obviously, many concerned citizens, especially intellectuals, will question the ethics of this new "zoo prison," and whether it is appropriate for a decent, moral democracy to use such methods for holding terrorist leaders. However, there is a deep sociological and societal response.
Terrorists are a special category of non human species. They may look like us, but they are actually a new monstrous breed with human characteristics. Even animals want to live and do not send their children to die purposely. Therefore, Arafat, bin Laden, Rantisi, Yassin and their herd are a new life form that is actually much lower than the animal kingdom.
The purpose of a zoo is to display all non human species and creatures for humanity to study. Perhaps we can learn why they seek to blow up babies in pizza parlors, slit stewardesses throats, run airplanes into office buildings filled with innocent people trying to make a living, all for a phony cause that they deem to be right.
What President Bush does not understand about Iraq, and Prime Minister Sharon never seems to grasp about the Arab world, is that the key to winning is not only military success. It has virtually nothing to do with an intellectual battle for their hearts and minds. It has everything to do with a totally decisive military victory, so that every enemy of America or Israel feels the pain and fear, and is ultimately grateful for the freedom given by the victor.
Secondly, and perhaps even important, is creating a feeling of humiliation, the most frightening emotion in the Arab/Muslim lexicon. Much of the Islamic Middle East would rather be dead than humiliated. Only when these macho men come to live by American Judeo-Christian values, which can indeed be coupled with Islam, will they begin to realize the insignificance of being the strongest, most powerful guy on the block. What is truly important is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness....and taking your family to Disneyworld.
Wake up President Bush. The Bronx Zoo has some room for Saddam!
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