Should the US Attempt to Understand and Address Arab Support of Terrorism?

1) "Disentangling Layers of a Loaded Term in Search of a Thread of Peace," A8, by Michael Slackman
2) "Israel: Firing of Envoy is Reversed," A12, by Ethan Bronner
3) "Israeli Plays in Dubai," B15 (Sports Briefing), by The Associated Press

Of the three articles published today, Michael Slackman's is particularly egregious in its attempt to obscure the objective meaning of terrorism in deference to Arab complaints.

1) Disentangling Layers of a Loaded Term in Search of a Thread of Peace

In this troubling piece, reporter Michael Slackman attempts to explain and validate the Arab public's anger over the United States' use of the word "terrorist" to label such groups as Hamas and Hezbollah. In Slackman's view, the "battle over the term terrorist has become a proxy for the larger issues that divide Washington and the Arab public."

He mainly focuses on the latest conflict in Gaza, where he writes that Arabs viewed Israel as the "real terrorists." Arabs "saw little distinction between Hamas’s shooting rockets into civilian areas of Israel and Israel’s shooting rockets into civilian areas of Gaza, even if Hamas militants were operating there or just hiding out."

Perception, however, is one thing, and the reality another. Objectivity dictates that groups like Hamas and Hezbollah engage in terrorism - the purposeful use of violence against civilians in order to achieve a political objective. Rather than abide by this objective definition though, Slackman believes that we should listen and respond to these extreme Arab views.

According to Slackman, Al Qaeda is clearly a terrorist group, but Hamas and Hezbollah, because they represent national movements that engage in political and social activities, should not be labeled terrorist organizations. Slackman fails to understand that Islamist organizations can represent all of the above. Just because Hamas engages in charitable activities does not obviate the terrorist label. It engages in terrorism, and is therefore a terrorist organization.

The Arab views in this article demonstrate why there exists such a gap between the United States and the Arab world. A large number of Arabs are unwilling to recognize the use of terrorism as a blight upon humanity that has no place among civilized nations. It is not the sole responsibility of the U.S. to bridge this gap if the Arab world refuses to condemn those extremists in its midst, which it instead lionizes. In Slackman's world though, the Arab world is not held accountable for its positions and actions as if Arabs lacked agency. Slackman should note that the colonialists of old also discounted the agency of indigenous peoples.

In the end, terrorism must be recognized as terrorism. By pretending that Hamas doesn't engage in terrorism because it is a "loaded term," we are not coming anywhere closer to peace but we are actually drifting farther away from it. Organizations like Hamas must be held accountable for the actions and understand that they will never benefit from the use of terrorism.

To conclude the piece, Slackman gives the influential 'last word' to a female Arab street vendor: "You have to understand everyone’s opinions and demands, and negotiate. There will be no peace without this." Wrong, we must not embolden radicals by attempting to understand their use/support of terrorism or accommodate their extreme demands. In order to achieve actual peace, extremism needs to be countered, not encouraged.

2) Israel: Firing of Envoy is Reversed

This brief reports Prime Minister's Ehud Olmert's decision to reinstate Amos Gilad, "special envoy to Egypt in its mediation efforts for truce talks with Hamas."

I doubt the average Times reader has any idea what this news means, but then again, the Times will report anything on Israel.

3) Israeli Plays in Dubai

This sports brief continues the ongoing saga of the 2009 Dubai Tennis Championships, which began when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) refused to provide a visa for Israeli female tennis player to compete in the tourney. Following international outcry and punitive actions, the UAE bowed under pressure, issuing a visa to Israeli doubles player Andy Ram to compete in the men's tournament.

Unfortunately, he and his partner lost the match. During the match, he was "protected by two bodyguards" and "spectators had to leave their belongings outside, and metal detectors were set up outside the court." Sad that such measures. Fortunately, there were no incidents.