Terrorism has been successful

Submitted by Charles Gruenspan (United States), Jul 17, 2007 at 11:48

>"Terrorism: Never successful, nor is it ever likely to be. It can cause huge damage, but without changing regimes."

This ignores what is arguably the most spectacularly successful act of terrorism of the Islamist era. Nine days before he was due to take office as President of Lebanon, Bashir Gemayel was assassinated, along with 25 others, on September 14, 1982.

It did not technically change the regime, ultimately headed by Bashir's brother, but it did significantly alter regime policy, which is equivalent. Bashir Gemayel was widely expected to enter into a strategic agreement with Israel, the obvious motivation for his assassination.

Not only did this single act of terrorism prevent peace with Israel, but after the assassination, the Israeli army re-occupied West Beirut and Maronite militias then carried out the Sabra and Shatila massacres, which had the added benefit (to the terrorists) of bringing massive condemnation upon Israel.

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