 The Edge. Holton, Reflections on Modern Terrorism. A little long-winded but apropos to what we are currently experiencing. He proposes that we are currently seeing the emergence of a new type of terrorism (Type III). Type I is the classic low-tech hijacking or bombing conducted by a small group. Type II is state sponsored terrorism conducted by the military with high tech weaponry. Type III is a combination of the two where large groups are slaved to sponsor states to conduct large scale high-tech terrorism. To a small extent we have seen that with 9/11. In that situation, Type III terrorists funded and protected by sponsor states utilized the infrastructure of the target state to create havoc.
This may explain the changing situation on the west bank. The Palestinians have traditionally followed a sporadic and low tech Type I model of terrorism. Israel reciprocated with Type II terrorism. Funding, planning, and organization over the last several years has allowed the Palestinians to cross en masse over into Type III terrorism, where the scale, quality of weapons, and frequency of terrorist attacks have radically increased. Given this change, Israel's reliance on a Type II terrorist response may be inadequate.
Why? Three reasons:
1) The source of the funding and technology enabling the Palestinian Type III terrorists is external to theater of war and therefore left untouched by Israel's actions.
2) Israel's Type II response, while effective earlier against small groups of independent actors (Type I terrorists) is ineffective against a disenfranchised population slaved to a Type III system. The target is too large, and short killing them all, they will continue to act. Additionally, sporadic Type II action will only solidify the Type III terrorist system by widening its support.
3) The quality of the technology provided Type III terrorists will continue to improve and may result in a catastrophic event. Israel's actions clearly are increasing the willingness of sponsor states to supply weapons of mass destruction to the Palestinian terrorist organization.
The only solution: Israel should quickly pull out of all occupied territories. A multi-national peacekeeping force, led by the US should establish a protectorate on the west bank. US pressure could then force sponsor states to relinquish support for the Palestinian terror network. Israel's security would be established. It is only then that a Palestinian middle class could emerge to act as a moderating influence.
Shorn of its external support and challenged by a competitive social movement, the Palestinian Type III network would dissolve. The alternative is to continue with the current framework of continuous Type II vs. Type III violence until the introduction of new technology enables one or more catastrophic mass deaths occur.
10:06:30 AM 
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