The monsters of terror

Killing innocent people is the stock in trade of terrorists. The aim is not only to inflict death and injury, but also to spread fear. Terrorists seek to have others bow to their demands in the belief that doing so will keep more innocent people from being killed or hurt.

But the plain truth is that terrorists are savage killers. They take some perverted pleasure in the agony they inflict on other humans.

In parts of the world where terrorist activity is well-known, evil minds conspire to use others who are willing to end their own lives as human bombs. Those who plot terrorism, however, are rarely willing to sacrifice themselves -- a fact that transforms the leaders of terrorism into monsters.

In the past few days, the world has seem more terrorist acts. One attack was believed to be the work of Chechen separatists. A suicide bomber struck at a military hospital in the Russian city of Mozdok where Russian troops were being treated. Mozdok is the headquarters for Russian forces fighting in Chechnya.

Another suicide-bomber attack was in Jakarta and believed to be the work of Jemaah Islamiah, a regional terror network said to have ties to al-Qaida. This attack was aimed at a Marriott hotel, killing 14 and injuring nearly 150. The hotel has close ties to the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia.

Another Indonesian target was hit by terrorists last fall on the tourist island of Bali. That attack on a nightclub killed more than 200 individuals. Authorities believe Jemaah Islamiah was also responsible for those deaths.

And Thursday terrorists bombed the Baghdad embassy of Jordan -- which recently provided a haven for two of Saddam Hussein's daughters and their children.

Other parts of the world unfortunately regard terrorism as a fact of life. For years, the United States stood apart from the rest of the world. It wasn't until Sept. 11, 2001, that an act of terrorism by foreigners found a U.S. target.

Since then, the nation has experiencedthe psychological impact of anthrax in the mail and wondering if and when another attack might occur.

It's easy to become complacent in this country as more time passes without an incident of terrorism -- even while more deaths occur at the hands of terrorists elswhere. The Department of Homeland Security constantly walks a thin line between keeping Americans on their guard on the one hand and creating unnecessary anxiety on the other.

Keep in mind that prior to the 9-11 attacks, terrorism was no stranger in this country, even though it was perpetrated by a former GI and a former university professor. The deadly attacks by Timothy McVeigh and Ted Kaczynski were just as irrational and just as destructive as those by rebels and religious fanatics from far-off lands.

One thing is certain: Making deals with terrorists is no solution. This point is being underscored in the current negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. These talks are a cautionary tale of what happens when terrorism becomes one of the main bargaining chips as two nations try to resolve deep-rooted differences.