Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A good terrorist leader is one who isn't breathing

RECENT U.S. MISSILE strikes against identified terrorists should be only the beginning of an all-out assault against killers of Americans. It's also time for our country to quit trying to stop terrorists with one hand while the other hand is tied up with naive rules and restrictions. Terrorists have no rules or restrictions and they easily learn our limitations and use them against us.

A good example of our less-than-brilliant rules is an executive order, signed by President Ford more than 20 years ago, which prohibits the U.S. government from attempting to assassinate foreign leaders. Several attempts have been prepared by terrorists to assassinate our recent presidents, but we can't retaliate in kind. Furthermore, I find it difficult to consider people like Abu Nidal and Osama bin Laden as foreign leaders of anything but gangsters. They certainly don't lead nations.

Since our Tomahawk cruise missiles landed in Afghanistan and Sudan there has been fear expressed that we have opened Pandora's box. The whining about our missile strike inviting more attacks against Americans is nonsense. These blood baths have been going on for years, executed whenever it was convenient for the terrorists to strike. They can only be slowed down by cutting off the head of the leading snake. Sure other snakes will eventually move to the front, but it takes time and money to reorganize terrorist networks. As long as terrorists enlist and train killers in the name of religion, they will always be a serious threat.

Seven years ago this column quoted Xavier Raufer of the Institute for International Studies when he summarized the seven rules of the Middle East terrorism game. The first six are listed as:

Because of the importance of rule No. 7, I will let Raufer explain it in depth by writing:

In the Middle East, no one will ever look straight into your eyes and say, "Stop arming or supporting so and so, or else." You will simply, without any clear warning, be the victim of a spectacular attack. The very person who ordered it will be the first to express his condolences, lament over the disaster and denounce the criminals.

Shortly afterwards, a "friend" of the perpetrator will contact you, with alarming news. New attacks are rumored, he is doing his best to stop them, but now he needs a gesture from you to placate these mysterious terrorists, over whom he has modest influence. Why not suspend -- temporarily, of course -- the weapon deliveries to X? This way your friend will have excellent arguments with which to defend you. As a reward for his help, he will content himself with a few economic and military favors and, of course, a few words of appreciation in the press.

There isn't a tough or violent neighborhood in any major U.S. city that can equal the environment of fear and distrust that exists in nations being controlled by Islamic terrorists. They kill fellow Muslims to gain power as quickly as they butcher Jews and Christians. Americans or any other group of people practicing and promoting individual freedom are viewed as threats to their rule and must eventually be destroyed. The strength and wealth of the United States is both envied and hated.

Once we identify terrorist leaders, there should be no restrictions on how or when they are taken out of operation. Tomahawk cruise missiles are but one weapon in a long list of other weapons and intelligence available to the United States. A terrorist leader afraid to stay more than one night in any place isn't nearly as effective as one feeling cocky and secure. A dead terrorist is even better.

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