OpinionJournal - Best of the Web for Monday, April 1, 2002 contains an excellent discussion of what Israel and the rest of the civilized world is up against with the decision to use suicide bombers as a military tactic.

One thing that isn't mentioned is the effect a spread of such tactics will have on moderate, peaceful Muslims living in Non-Muslim nations. We are now used to hearing American Muslims complain about racial profiling and discrimination when people with Arab or South Asian features are given special scrutiny. Unfortunately this is a characteristic many innocent people share with the 9-11 hijackers, and it is reasonable, if regrettable, to give such people extra scrutiny. However, what they will suffer if Muslims begin suicide bombing in the U.S. is truly scary.

It is possible that our current policy that our war is not against Islam may change in the face of such tactics. I hate to think of such things, but they must be contemplated after recent events in Israel and Palestine. Unless Muslims stand up and take responsibility for cleansing themselves of the terrorist element, instead of maintaining a knee-jerk solidarity with all Muslims everywhere, the traditions of tolerance and freedom of religion are in danger. That is not my wish or that of any intelligent and patriotic American.

After the attacks in September 2001, I was concerned for Muslims in the this nation, and I was gratified and relieved that there weren't more attacks on them. But sympathy with and support for suicide bombing could change that. It is something we all, not just Muslims, should fear greatly.

On the other side of the issue are those American politicians and intellectuals who are reflexively calling for more negotiations and diplomatic initiatives are not helping the matter, because such efforts being imposed on Israelis will be seen by the bombers as progress toward achieving their ends. It has been obvious for too long that Arafat is either unwilling or unable to stop this insanity. His reaction to Clinton's efforts at winning his own Nobel Peace Prize should have made that clear, but apparently some are so captivated by peace politics that they can't acknowledge reality or think out of their own box.

It is time for the rest of the world to lay down the law to the Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world. Violence doesn't work. Non-violence does. If Islam is truly a religion of peace, it much recognize this and produce it's own Ghandi/Martin Luther King for this generation. Pulling Arafat off the stage might help that person to be discovered.