Soccer Dad

The banality of terror

Without passing judgment the NYT reported on the Hezbollah Shrine to Terrorist Suspect Enthralls Lebanese Children

The dead man being shown such veneration is Imad Mugniyah, the shadowy Hezbollah commander. Until his death in a car bombing in Syria in February he was virtually unknown here, his role in the militant Shiite group clothed in secrecy. But since then Hezbollah has hailed him as one of its great military leaders in the struggle against Israel.

Now, the group has opened an exhibit in this southern town in honor of Mr. Mugniyah, who is widely accused in the West of masterminding devastating bombings, kidnappings and hijackings in the 1980s and '90s. His stern, bearded face towers over the transformed parking lot where the exhibit is taking place, along with banners exalting him as "the leader of the two victories" -- the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 and the 2006 summer war with Israel.

The presentation, which opened Aug. 15, is Hezbollah's most ambitious multimedia exhibit to date, meant to dramatize the group's bitter conflict with Israel on the second anniversary of their latest war. Schoolchildren pour in throughout the day, absorbing the carefully honed message of heroic resistance. At night, light and laser shows illuminate the weaponry and tanks, and overflow crowds have been keeping it open until after 1 a.m.

There are two points to note about the article.

It was conceived by the architect Ahmed Tirani and built in just three weeks by a staff of 290 working around the clock. In addition to an extraordinary array of weaponry and martyrs' paraphernalia, it includes a large indoor room that was remodeled to resemble "what we believe the martyrs' heaven is like," according to one of the guides on duty.

"[W]eaponry and martyr's paraphernalia?" Wouldn't the word "terrorist" or, at least, "militant" be more appropriate? Or did this article have to pass muster with Hezbollah?

And the article ends with this positive note:

"I came here to teach my kids the culture of resistance," said a visitor who gave his name only as Ahmed, as he stood with his wife and two children. "I want them to see what the enemy is doing to us, and what we can do to fight them, because this enemy is not merciful."

Hezbollah's unmerciful enemy just traded a child killer for the corpses of two soldiers who were kidnapped and killed in violation of international law. The child killer was celebrated by Hezbollah and its supporters. This fellow, whose views go unchallenged has a strange idea of mercy.

The short story:

Here's what they're teaching the kiddies in southern Lebanon: Revere terrorist masterminds.

Similarly Elder of Ziyon writes:

A society is truly twisted when it sends hundreds of children to venerate - and emulate - a bloodthirsty killer.

Israel Matzav adds:

Mugniyah was likely the pre-eminent terror tactician of his generation. I don't know who killed him, but I'm happy he's gone. For those who are interested, the Times has more pictures and a slide show at the link above. Personally, I found it sickening.

What's also sickening is the casual way this museum is described without a trace of judgment or outrage. Hezbollah has threatened revenge against Israel and Jewish targets worldwide as revenge for the killing of Mughniyeh, something that needs to be taken seriously in light of yesterday's arrests in Canada.

Hezbollah isn't just a bunch of religious eccentrics who have a problem with Israel, but an international terrorist organization targeting Jews all around the world. This article served to distract from that reality.

Crossposted on Yourish.