November 8, 2006

Hamas Urges Attacks on U.S. Targets

I've always found it amusing how many liberals and even some conservatives have urged the U.S. to engage in dialogue with Hamas. They don't seem to grasp that Hamas--a vicious terrorist group whose founding charter calls for the destruction of Israel--has long been a committed enemy of the U.S. as well.

Indeed, media and government assures that Hamas "only" seeks the destruction of Israel, and bears no ill will toward America, America is anything but safe from the group's wrath. As I wrote in this 2004 article, Hamas--which receives funding and support from America's sworn enemies in Damascus and Tehran--"serves as a fertile base for Hamas fundraising activity. And FBI agents have expressed concern that the group's operatives in America currently have the capacity to carry out terrorist attacks on American soil."

In that same article, I outline a history of threatening statements Hamas has made towards the U.S. This inflammatory language has led myself, as well as others like Daniel Pipes, to speculate that it may only be a matter of time before Hamas sets its sights on U.S. targets.

Here's the latest round of threats from Hamas's military wing:

Hamas' military wing called Wednesday on Muslims around the world to attack American targets following reports that an Israeli tank strike killed 18 people in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.

The Hamas-led Palestinian government distanced itself from the call, saying its fight was with Israel.

Hamas militants have historically directed their suicide bombings and rocket attacks only against Israeli targets.

"America is offering political, financial and logistic cover for the Zionist occupation crimes, and it is responsible for the Beit Hanoun massacre. Therefore, the people and the nation all over the globe are required to teach the American enemy tough lessons," Hamas' military wing said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

Sounds rather ominous. But never fear, Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government, said the group had no intention of attacking American targets:

"Our battle is against the occupation on the Palestinian land. We have no interest to transfer the battle," Hamad said.

Whatever its stance on the United States, Hamas continues to make one thing abundantly clear: its commitment to the destruction of Israel.