In his first speech after 9/11 (Sept. 20, 2001) the President set the tone and the detail for his Bush Doctrine:

"We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network."

President Bush has been on record time and again since 9/11 emphasizing that his administration will wage an uncompromising war against international terrorism which had cost the lives of thousands of Americans even before the Al Qaeda onslaught.

That single act of inhuman terrorism killed another 3,000 Americans and destroyed the Twin Towers. It brought the US face to face with terrorism on its own soil. It was to be expected that the sleeping giant would awaken to deal with this new peril. It did.

"By aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime is committing murder." -- Pres. George Bush

The US invaded Afghanistan, the host country, and smashed the Taliban. It is still seeking Omar Bin Laden, the so-called spiritual leader of Al Qaeda.

Would the US make peace with the Taliban? With Al Qaeda? With Bin Laden? You must be joking. Why then does the US prevent Israel from meting out justice to Palestinian terrorists for their inhuman attacks on Israeli civilians? Why are we being forced into an untenable peace with a terrorist organization?

The President has made a score of speeches reiterating his anti-terrorist doctrine, praising freedom, democracy, and urging reform. He speaks to all nations, specifically to the Islamic nations, and especially to the Arab states.

"Our war on terror begins with Al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated." (Underscoring mine.)

Al Qaeda is among the names listed on the US register of Terrorist Organizations. Seven of them appear on the US list. Nor are those that don't appear unworthy; but State seems reluctant to add more. Notably, the six additional "factions" (13 in all) which attended the Cairo Conference, March 16-17. They belong on this list.

The Popular Resistance Committees, for example, is not on the US list, yet it was second only to Hamas in launching rocket attacks against Jewish settlements in Gaza and communities in southern Israel. How come this nefariously dangerous group is not listed on State's roster?

Abbas tried hard in Cairo for a "cease fire" but could not get it. He had to settle for "calm" or admit defeat. "Calm?" That's a new one from the Palestinians, never at a loss for inventive terminology.

"Factions" is another euphemism. All 13 factions are bona fide terrorist groups who have actively carried out, or attempted, killing operations aimed at Israelis. Civilians for the most part. And their quarrels among themselves are those of brothers, not enemies.

Their terrorist identity is not arguable - since if these groups were not actively engaged in murder and mayhem, what need of Abbas to invite them to a conference to persuade them to "cease fire"?

In his carefully considered 9/11 speech introducing the Bush Doctrine, the President specifically singled out countries which harbor and facilitate terrorism. Thus:

"Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime." (My emphasis.)

President Bush never excluded the Palestinian regime from his doctrine. Why then does he give them a free pass?

How come Bush supported the corrupt and thoroughly discredited Arafat regime with hundreds of millions of US tax dollars, while restricting international funds being raised and transferred to other terrorist organizations?

Why does President Bush reward the Palestine (Terrorist) Authority, exceptionally, with his political support?

Why did he prevent Israel from defeating the Palestinian terrorists whose mission was, and still is, Israel's elimination?

Why does Bush urge release of Palestinian terrorists held by Israel while he keeps a tight hold on Taliban and others captives in Quantanamo Bay?

"Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime." -- President Bush

Does the Palestine Authority continue to harbor Arab terrorism? It certainly does. Nor will Abbas (so he has stated) use its 40,000 plus police force to collect terrorists' weapons and disband their infrastructure. (As required by the Road Map.)

On the contrary, and horrendously, Abbas plans to execute 17 or more collaborators charged with giving Israel information to prevent pending terrorist attacks, or for having fingered some of Israel's most wanted terrorists.

Does the PA support terrorist organizations? Yes, absolutely. Abbas took the heads of these 13 terrorist groups along with him to talk cease fire in Cairo.

Abbas negotiated with these terrorists for a cease fire. But he could not get it, so he settled for "a period of calm", whatever that might mean. Yet he collected unjustified dividends in return - the release of 500 mostly "failed murderers".

It could be instructive to remember that failed suicide terrorist Richard Reid, known as the "shoe bomber", was sentenced to life plus 80 years for his attempted murder. He did not have blood on his hands - to use that quaint Israeli expression which presumably might exonerate someone like Osama Bin Laden.

Abbas is not satisfied with what he got when Israel handed over Jericho. He wanted many more prisoners released; both those who succeeded in killing and those without so called blood on their hands. (Unlike the US, Israeli justice is regrettably satisfied with nominal jail sentences.)

"We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network." -- President George Bush

One must wonder why the Bush administration supported the transfer of Jews out of Gush Katif. Why should he not have supported a Jewish enclave remaining in Gaza? Does the President not realize that he champions the racist, apartheid, Judenrein policy of the PA?

Afghanistan was named a state that sponsored terror. So were Syria and Iran. How come State overlooked the Palestinian Terrorist Authority?

"So Israel must freeze settlement activity, help Palestinians build a thriving economy, and ensure that a new Palestinian state is truly viable ..." President Bush

President Bush calls for Israel to help the Arabs establish a viable State. But Israel would be unwise to leave the homes, shops, factories, businesses, public and communal buildings, agricultural hothouses etc, in Gush Katif (Gaza) as a contribution to the new State's viability.

There is the grave danger that this unjustified gift to the Terrorist Authority will be the greatest motivation to continue agitating for everything Jewish in Samaria, Judea (the so called West Bank) and the Golan.

Such a gift to a people who have killed so many of us and wounded and traumatized tens of thousands more (a great many crippled for life) is unwarranted generosity.

Self-preservation demands that whatever territory Israel gives up, all assets above ground must be destroyed to avoid inflaming the Palestinians' insatiable greed for the fruits of victory. Gush Katif may be their first triumph. Judea, Samaria and the Golan are next on their menu. Let us not whet their appetite.

Jock Falkson is a former South African advertising executive, now a free lance writer living in Israel.

To be put on Jock Falkson's email list to receive his essays, contact him at falkson@barak-online.net

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