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The limits of retribution

Reader comment on item: Don't Put Terrorists on Trial

Submitted by Gregg (United States), Jul 14, 2014 at 13:37

Israeli actions against Hamas, Hezbollah and similar barbarians show, I think, that retribution has its limits. The Israelis tend to use massive force, which inevitably has innocent casualties. One could argue that the terrorists specialize in innocent casualties, but who wants to claim moral equivalence with savages? "Unintended collateral damage" looks different depending on which side of the crater one is standing.

I think it's time to consider a sharper blade: By all means announce targets in advance so that at least the intelligent can evacuate the target area. But also try to choose targets that will embarrass the terrorists and are less likely to have civilians standing on top of them. Blow up power stations, roads and bridges and other infrastructure that will cause economic harm but risk fewer civilian casualties. This might seem to be "going easy" on the terrorists. Since when is mercy a bad thing?

g

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Daniel Pipes replies:

"The Israelis tend to use massive force": Hardly. Follow the news more closely.

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Reader comments (26) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
100% correct [59 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
JeffJul 16, 2014 13:25216128
Why this soft treatment? Possibly psychology & the need to move on to other issues [79 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PezDispenserJul 15, 2014 18:10216096
That only works for people who are omniscient [141 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Stephen ConnorJul 15, 2014 17:46216095
1No Peace for Justice not Served [120 words]M. ToveyJul 15, 2014 15:15216093
Certainty of our Cause [306 words]David SmithJul 15, 2014 11:37216084
Your Views are Typically An Israeli Ones! [122 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
WilsonJul 15, 2014 04:16216074
Unmilitary responses [90 words]Paul WinterJul 14, 2014 22:49216069
Terrorism [12 words]Robert MarguliesJul 14, 2014 17:42216062
Appropriate Hearing before a Forum of the United States of Foreign Terrorits [369 words]LudvikusJul 14, 2014 14:29216054
Due Process [56 words]William LeeJul 14, 2014 14:02216051
The limits of retribution [150 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
GreggJul 14, 2014 13:37216048
Do Not Accuse Israel of that Which the Terrorists Want - Sympathy for Terrorism [265 words]M. ToveyJul 16, 2014 14:14216048
query [108 words]greggJul 16, 2014 16:47216048
Hm.. interesting [36 words]JohnJul 17, 2014 01:06216048
Show of force [132 words]larryBJul 26, 2014 18:20216048
1Leopards don't change their spots [267 words]Jules PostenJul 14, 2014 11:27216041
2Retribution [11 words]SvenJul 14, 2014 11:27216040
1"certain and nasty" [107 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Ron MJul 14, 2014 10:47216038
Three Points [108 words]A.T. HalmayJul 14, 2014 10:33216037
Khatala should beat the rap [49 words]Wallace SchwamJul 14, 2014 10:30216036
What to do with terrorists [444 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Sigmund DermanJul 14, 2014 09:30216032
Criminality vs war [117 words]Sigmund DermanJul 18, 2014 17:28216032
2Good luck with that! [97 words]Abu NudnikJul 14, 2014 09:22216031
The european angle [121 words]Lars NielsenJul 14, 2014 08:01216026
1Don't put Terrorists on Trial. [212 words]Emanuel van den BemdJul 14, 2014 07:30216022
Stop all crimes and all wars [114 words]Michael JacobsJul 14, 2014 07:17216021

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