Fighting terror

Al-Qaida terrorists and their associated splinter groups are rightly described as violent, fanatical and obsessive. No one said they were very smart.

Recent Al-Qaida-linked violence has brought death and serious injuries to more Muslims than non-Muslims. Al-Qaida's apparent strategy of using indiscriminate violence against any person or group that doesn't view the world with the same hate-filled perspective they have is certain to backfire against them.

Saturday's suicide bombings at two Istanbul, Turkey synagogues killed 23 people -- five were Jews and 18 were Muslims. Similarly, the blasts wounded 60 Jews but the vast majority of the 303 injured persons were Muslims.

Earlier terrorist violence in Iraq that was aimed at the United Nations headquarters and also against Red Cross workers served only to delay relief to the Iraqi people. When Al-Qaida launched a car bomb attack against the Italian military police headquarters in Iraq at least 12 Iraqis died along with 19 Italians. Attacks in Saudi Arabia also are believed to be aimed at that regime because terrorists regard them as too cooperative with the U.S.

It's clear these terrorists will slaughter anyone who gets in their way. The consequences of this will be to alienate European nations that are concerned about the spread of terrorism and the more secular Muslim countries. Civilized nations around the globe, even those who have been quick to criticize American foreign policy, have a stake in suppressing Al-Qaida-style terrorism. If they don't realize that now they'll realize it when their citizens fall victim to the indiscriminate violence of terrorism.