Friday, June 27, 2003 | 9:10 a.m.
Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE advocating the use of American or United Nations' peacekeepers to separate the Israelis and Palestinians? More and more the whispers putting forth this insane idea are being repeated by others who don't know fact from fiction.
There isn't any peace to keep in that area today and there won't be any next year if the terrorists aren't disarmed. A cease-fire situation isn't the answer because the Israelis learned a long time ago that the words of Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and other terrorist organizations aren't worth the breath used to say them. All a cease-fire would accomplish is a delay until the terrorists are reorganized and ready to strike again. Israel has already had more than enough cafes, family gatherings and buses turned into slaughterhouses by Palestinian terrorists.
Almost three years of concentrated terrorism has encouraged the Israel Defense Forces to seek out and kill the Hamas leaders. These are leaders dedicated to killing the Jews and driving them into the sea. They feel much more comfortable directing death than being expected to work for a living in a peaceful setting. One of the best-known killers is Abdel Aziz Rantisi who escaped with his life during a rocket attack by an IDF helicopter. Several other Hamas leaders haven't been as fortunate and little by little these tactics have gained the attention of Hamas. Now, whether or not they admit it, they are willing to talk about a lull in activity but without any thought of disarming.
We have to believe that our Department of Defense, and maybe even the Department of State, has learned about the problems when dealing with terrorists. The United Nations' peacekeepers have long ago proven they are inadequate to meet the challenges present in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. In short order, the men with blue helmets become targets and are forced from the field of battle.
It was only 15 years ago that U.S. Marine Lt. Col. William "Rich" Higgins volunteered to head up the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was seized by Hezbollah terrorists, hanged and two years later his body was dumped in a Beirut street. His family is still waiting for his killers or any Hezbollah terrorist to face justice. Hezbollah, funded and armed by Iran and protected by Syria, has become even stronger and an international threat to our American way of life.
Hezbollah had already taken credit for the killing of 241 Marines in Beirut five years earlier. It was October 23, 1983 that a truck with 5,000 pounds of explosives was driven into the compound housing the Marines there to "keep the peace." It didn't take long for the Reagan administration to realize there was no peace to keep in Lebanon and our forces were withdrawn.
Our hands are full trying to pacify the militants and terrorists remaining in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many of the killers, in both nations, have their roots in other countries not wanting American presence on what they consider their turf. A few weeks ago our military commanders in Iraq came to realize that the use of more military force is necessary. The army of Iraq had folded and never felt the sting of a bloody defeat. Backers of Saddam Hussein now believe they can win an American withdrawal of sorts with terrorism. In Afghanistan an undermanned "peacekeeping" force from several nations is already having its credibility challenged.
In the year 2003 our country has had enough experience to deny placing outside forces between the IDF and the highly organized Palestinian terrorist units. No serious thought should be given such a move until both sides agree they are wanted, needed and will be respected.
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