LITTLE ROCK — IT WAS another attack on civilians in Afghanistan, this time on a medical center where women and children were lined up seeking maternity care, vaccinations and the like. Once the suicide bomber had done his bloody work, at least 35 victims were dead under the collapsed building.
There was one thing unusual about this attack: This time the Taliban took no credit for it, claiming it wasn’t their doing. Even if it had the earmarks of their work: an attack that scrupulously avoids military targets and concentrates exclusively on innocent civilians; a homicidal/suicidal plan of attack intended only to kill and maim rather than achieve any objective other than wanton destruction of life, liberty and property; and evil in general. In short, terror for terror’s sake.
Once asked what the purpose of all his terror was, Comrade Lenin gave the most honest and accurate response we know of. “The purpose of terror,” he said, “is to terrorize.” Nothing less, nothing more. If today’s Islamic terrorists were as candid, they would say the same thing instead of hiding behind their usual slogans.
The clearest product of terror is more terror, usually on a mounting scale. Just as Lenin was succeeded by Stalin, who outdid even him in that bloody department.
The only unusual thing about this particular act of terror in Afghanistan is that the usual terrorists disclaimed any responsibility for it.
Our mistake. This atrocity must have been the work of some other anti-Western, anti-progress, anti-woman, and generally anti-civilization gang of murderous religious fanatics who are a disgrace to the Islam they claim to represent.
Editorial, Pages 14 on 10/28/2011