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 There is worldwide consensus on the need to fight terrorism. To succeed
in defeating the terrorist threat, we need a three-pronged approach:
First, we need a clear and unambiguous definition of
"who is a terrorist."  Otherwise, we're stuck with saying that "one
man's terrorist another man's freedom fighter."

Second, we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to fighting evil.  And
finally, we must take proper action.

DEFINING TERROR

Objective definitions are the basis for all rational, intelligent
thinking.  What if I ask, "Are you a bafoostik?" You'll say, "What's
that?"  "Just tell me, are you or aren't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."  Nobody cares much about being
called a bafoostik.
But before bringing out the tanks and missiles, we must first define
"who is a terrorist." And apparently, the definition is not so clear.

At the same time that the U.S. hunts down Osama bin Laden and his
cohorts, the State Department demands that Israel cease its targeted
killing of Palestinians who mastermind near-daily terror attacks.

And last week, as world leaders offered condolences on the assassination
of Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Ze'evi, the Danish Foreign Minister
said there is no difference between the assassination of this
democratically elected leader, and Israel's targeted killing of suicide
bombers and their sponsors.

Syria, the sponsor of Hizbullah and countless other terror groups, is
now honored with a seat on the U.N. Security Council.  Confusing
rhetoric abounds in the media as well. BBC
policy permits the use of "terrorist" primarily when an attack occurs on
British soil. Reuters' 2500 journalists are instructed to never describe
an attack as "terror." And last week, a guest on CNN's "Larry King Live"
explained that Bin Laden's men are "terrorists," whereas Palestinian
suicide bombers "are martyrs who give themselves for a cause."  So once and for
all, let's get a clear definition of terrorism.

"Terrorism is to purposefully harm innocent men, women and children, for
the purpose of terrorizing them to accept your demands."  This helps
clarify why George Washington was a
legitimate "freedom fighter."  He did not urge the massacre of British
civilians or depict Great Britain as a fascist horror that God wants to
destroy. Nor did he destroy British
places of worship or publish maps showing a Europe wiped clean of
England. The difference is clear. No freedom fighter will take hostages
or harm innocent people in order to achieve his freedom, no matter how
desperate the situation. One cannot do evil to achieve good. By their
own definition, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hizbullah, PFLP and Arafat's
Tanzim are terrorists. They proclaim from the mosques and rooftops their
wish to kill every Jewish man, woman and child --
with drive-by shootings, lynching, and suicide bombings.  Israel is
hunting down these Arab terrorists, who are actively engaged in planning
and executing additional terror against
Jewish civilians. Imagine the audacity of those who try to make the
victims of terrorism into the
terrorists themselves.  When it comes to terrorism, we must have a clear
definition, take a firm stand, and work to educate others.

OPPOSING EVIL

The next step is to recognize that absolute evil exists, and it must be
fought.  This is a difficult task for a multicultural and free society
that is encumbered with a broad definition of "tolerance."  The media,
universities and politically correct pundits declare that everyone is
right and there are no absolutes.  Actually, this is a distorted definition of
tolerance. Tolerance means a  commitment to working out disagreements
through mutual understanding and discussion, not violence.  So let us be clear:
To murder innocent people is evil -- absolutely. To terrorize is evil --
absolutely. This is true whether the perpetrator is
white, black or yellow, Christian, Jew or Moslem. Would the pacifists
prefer that we all live in a conquered world, living under the Talbian
laws or those of Osama bin Laden?
We cannot fight evil if there is no evil. Evil must be called evil --
throughout the media, government and in public discourse. And in order
to defeat evil, we have to be dedicated to "good," as fiercely  as our
enemies are dedicated to "evil."

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