The Weekly Portion: Mughniyeh and the war on terror

There is no one in the security and defense establishments and counter-terrorism organizations who did not express joy and relief at the assassination of Mughniyeh. We've been hearing his name since the 1980s. He was one of the founders of Hizbullah which operates directly under the auspices of the Iranian regime. It was in this organization that he rose up the ranks to become 'terror chief'. Our list of scores to settle with Mughniyeh is long. It includes the Buenos Aires Embassy bombing in 1992,  the bombing of the Jewish Center in that city two years later, the kidnapping and murder of 3 soldiers at Har Dov in 2000. The Americans also have a bone to pick with Mughniyeh; the marine barracks bombing in Beirut and the American embassy bombing in that city and the death by torture of the head of the CIA in Lebanon, Bill Buckley, who was kidnapped in 1984.

Mughniyeh served not only as the head of operations but also as the contact between the intelligence and operational branches of Teheran and Damascus.

His creative and wicked mind planned more severe and sophisticated attacks that were clearly disrupted by his death.

There are those who wonder if targeting terrorists of various ranks serve a purpose, since a replacement is often found and there are times when the rebuttal is cruel and fatal.

We must remember the following:

• Terrorist organizations do not need the excuse of revenge to launch attacks. It is their raison d'etre.
• The assassination of a senior terror official always arouses suspicions of his leadership and launched a search for "moles" who aided in the operation which in itself disrupts terror activity.
• As long as senior terror officials are preoccupied with their personal survival and self-preservation, they can direct less attention to terror planning and operation.
• Not always is there an obvious replacement for the assassinated terrorist chief; in his operational sophistication, in his professional knowledge and in his range of contacts.

This is the war on terror. There are no easy, speedy or complete victories. It is a war based on the principles of perseverance and focus. The elimination of terror leaders is a useful and essential part in this war. The more focused and precise the assassination the better since it also prevents the deaths of innocents.

It serves no purpose to discuss the question of 'who killed Imad Mughniyeh'. He had many victims, not just Israelis and Americans but other nationals, from Kuwait to Argentina. Whoever has many victims will also acquire many enemies. And whoever lives by the sword will die by the sword.

Iran and Hizbullah point fingers at us and we must act with caution and and diligence in Israel, abroad and in Jewish communities.