But I think it is ridiculous to call the Palestinian self-destruction reflex a common feature of Arab Islam. The following examples are provided:
• The first case is that of Saddam Hussein, who in 2003 could have avoided war and conquest by allowing UN inspectors to search for (the apparently non-existent) weapons of mass destruction wherever they wanted. Yet Iraq's ruler opted for war, knowing full well that he would have to face the might of the US.
• The second case is that of Yasser Arafat in 2000, who after the failure of the Camp David and Taba talks had two options: continue talking to Israel - under the leadership of Ehud Barak, this country's most moderate and flexible government ever - or resort to violence. He chose the latter, with the result that all progress toward Palestinian independence was blocked. The ensuing loss of life, on both sides, testified to Arafat's preference for suicide over compromise.
• The third case is that of the Taliban. Post-9/11, their leadership had two options: to enter into negotiations with the US, with a view to extraditing Osama bin Laden, or to risk war and destruction. The choice they made was obvious: Better to die fighting than to give up an inch.
These are not examples of suicide. Far from it.
Saddam Hussein in 2003 was not suicidal, defying the United States knowing that destruction would follow. He believed we would not come to Baghdad. He believed we would use air power and if troops entered Iraq they would not attempt city fighting. Saddam assumed his French and Russian friends would save him trhough the UN. Saddam was wrong. He was not suicidal.
The second case is wrong, too. Arafat did not choose to be destroyed by the Israelis. He chose not to be murdered by Palestinian fanatics had he chosen peace with Israel on any terms that Israelis would have accepted. Remember Sadat? Arafat did and he did not wish to commit suicide by agreeing to a "compromise" peace deal that most Palestinians would have rejected as nothing but a surrender.
The third is like the first case. The Taliban were not out to commit suicide. But they did beat the Soviet-backed regime and were allied with al Qaeda which boasted they had driven the Soviet Union from Afghanistan. The Taliban simply did not anticipate our ability to reach around the globe to strangle the Taliban government and send bin Laden fleeing to Pakistan caves.
One could say with more certainty that the Finns were suicidal in 1939 when they defied Soviet Russia's demands and went to war instead.
One could say that about America in 1812 when we defied the British superpower and decided to fight.
It is not uncommon for small powers to defy larger powers.
Heck, you could say that about Russia which is posing as the enemy of the West while their military ability to back their defiance continues to wither. Moscow could have joined the West but they've decided to be our weak enemy. Now that's suicidal! They're just lucky we don't really take their bluster seriously.
The Palestinians are collectively stupid and self-destructive. But this is not an Arab Moslem failing. So no luck for them in blaming the Jews or Arab Moslem culture. They've only got themselves to blame for the mess they are in.
