I think we're revealing a certain hypocricy in the terrorist structure. One should not preach jihad and martyrdom if they are not willing to practice it. Duh.

Perhaps, but hypocricy is the least of their crimes.

Good point, as we all remember when Bush was in Afghanistan, and later in Iraq, kicking terrorist arse... (... ... I know Bush is a bad example of a non-terrorist leader, but they're all the same)
If every single Palestinian and Israeli are willing to sacrifice their life for that cause, I'd agree with you. They're not, though.

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The Kurdish Workers Party and militant Kurdish had begun scaling back their activities long before the capture of Abdallah Ochalan because of the changing situation.
1. A semi-autonomous state was created in Kurdistan
2. Turkish military pulled out a lot of troops from Kurdish areas
3. Turkey reversed its ban on the kurdish language
4. Turkey removed many discrimanatory laws
So in actual fact, the reduction in activity has far more to do with addressing grievances than capturing 'the big guy', who by then, had already settled in virtual exile.

Hamas has tens of thousands of members and supporters and their primary grievances have not been addressed. They will never have trouble finding new leaders. The *only* ways to defeat Hamas is to remove its support and to do that the Israeli government needs to have a complete policy overhaul in the way that Turkey did.
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With the money and equipment available in rich countries, a lot is possible.
Without it (as in the case of all of the occupied territories), not much is - not that you need me to tell you that.

Sometimes I think you take the contrary position purely for the sake of enjoying an argument: rather than for any rational reason.
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If that happens, they'll whip out the nukes and then our planet will fly off into the sun!

<font color=orange>HAMAS sends children in as sucide bombers now. Nough said.</font>

The youngest member of the British taskforce sent to the Falklands was aged 16 - and Britain continues to employ child soldiers. Nough said?

In some countries they even execute children... nough said?

And you can marry a 13 year old girl in New Hampshire. Nough said?
Or do I call everyone in New Hampshire 'paedophiles' (or Alabama, South Carolina etc.) without reference to the culture and history? I believe that, in certain circumstances (and with a court order) it's possible to marry a child under 16 (and therefore have lawful sex with a minor) in Knoxville too...

Suicide bombing is just plain WRONG - it's not a rational act - its an act of desparation act that causes intense suffering in its wake. It's enough to argue against it on that basis alone - bring ages into it and you will have to engage in a bit of self-examination.

What you find in that process might be just as unpalatable. Best not to go there.

[ 03-29-2004, 02:41 AM: Message edited by: Skunk ]

<font color=orange>I know of nowhere in the US that one can marry a 13 year old. Nor can someone join the US military anymore without a high school diploma, which means one must attend 4 years of high school. A 17 year old can join, but he or she must complete High School First. The military stopped taking Drop-outs along time ago. I'm not even sure you can get in with a GED. So yes, I damn well will go there! It's only desparation on the part of HAMAS because they can't get enough men to do their dirty work!
They are the lowest of the low! The Falklands was what 20 years ago. What is the rule for the British Army now?</font>

Still 16 years old - Britain remains the only country in Europe to employ child soldiers.

A good site listing child-marriage rules in the US:
http://family-law.freeadvice.com

Pay attention to this page, http://family-law.freeadvice.com/nh_...l_consent.htm.

Now you know where you can marry a 13 year old girl in the US...

I fail to see what the relevence of these straw man arguments are. Regardless of what the West does or doesn't do, it doesn't change the evil that using children as bombs is. We are (were) talking Islam. There is no justification for the practice if the West did exactly the same thing.

However, the west does not.

Is joining the Army at age 16 a guarantee of certain death? Definately no. In many cases, it gets kids off the streets, gives them a career, a home and money. A future. The Armed forces gives people training for use in life. You can be in the army and be an engineer, a musician, whatever. I have a friend who is in the Australian army, and plays bass guitar all day. He will never fire a weapon in anger. He is an army entertainer.

Similarly, marriage at 13 (exceptionally rare) is again, hardly the same thing as strapping a bomb to you. Ever heard of divorce Skunk? At 23 after ten years of marriage, the child bride has another whole life in front of her. Something the suice bomber does not.

Straw man arguments and irrelevencies. Doesn't change the evil of using kids to blow themselves and innocent civilians up does it?