OTHER COMMENTARY / EXCERPTS : Appeasement Will Not Quell Terrorists
An air attack on one of the terrorist training centers in Libya, Lebanon or Iran is an inviting prospect. But, like all anti-terrorist military operations, to be effective as a deterrent such a mission would have to be completely successful. It would have to be a one-shot operation.
Let us suppose that it is successful. A terrorist training center is laid waste, the instructors and students are killed. What does the United States gain?
Americans may rejoice that the terrorists have been “taught a lesson.” But for how long? The sources of terrorism in the Middle East or, indeed, in Western Europe or anywhere else are too deep to be eliminated by a single raid, no matter how devastating. One raid or six raids will not eliminate terrorism.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
