The New York Times Obituary: Yasir Arafat

The New York Times Obituary: Yasir Arafat, Father and Leader of Palestinian Nationalism, Is Dead {a regular George Washington, he was!}:

"No other individual so embodied the Palestinians' plight: their dispersal, their statelessness, their hunger for a return to a homeland lost to Israel. Mr. Arafat was once seen as a romantic hero and praised as a statesman, but his luster and reputation faded over time. A brilliant navigator of political currents in opposition, once in power he proved more tactician than strategist, and a leader who rejected crucial opportunities to achieve his declared goal."

Declared goal? You mean the complete destruction of Israel and the elimination of all Jews on the planet?

"In the 1960's, he pioneered what became known as "television terrorism" - air piracy and innovative forms of mayhem staged for maximum propaganda value. Among the more startling deeds he ordered was the kidnapping that led to the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. In 1986, a group linked to Mr. Arafat but apparently acting independently seized the Achille Lauro cruise ship and threw overboard an elderly American Jew in a wheelchair."

Does changing the names: "air piracy" = hijacking; "innovative forms of mayhem" = suicide bombers; make the acts less revolting? Apparently they are to be admired. So says Judith Miller and the New York Times. After all, they refer to these deeds as "pioneered". I always thought of pioneers in a positive, optimistic light as in: open up an area or prepare a way; "She pioneered a graduate program for women students". Perhaps I need to adjust my definition.

In addition, Arafat only ordered the "kidnapping" of Israeli athletes? The fact that it "led" to the massacre of said athletes is not directly attributed to his order? Neither is the group "linked" to, but "apparently acting independently", that threw Leon Klinghoffer, overboard? Oh, by the way, the "obituary" fails to include the fact that they shot him first, in front of his wife!

Excuse the overuse, and improper use, of question marks, but I really do have a lot of questions - about all of this! And these comments are only based on the first six paragraphs of a seven page (online) lovefest!

UPDATE: The NRO is reporting that the UN and Kofi Annan, have ordered their flags flown at half mast. One can only imagine the ceremony they would have had for Hitler, Lenin, and Stalin? Or what they will have when Saddam and Osama are finally brought to justice!