Terror works because the modern world lets it work. Kill civilians, film the horror, provoke retaliation, then weaponize the bodies for global sympathy. That’s the playbook. Hamas didn’t stumble into this strategy—it built it. The tunnels, the human shields, the media choreography, the moral theater: all designed to turn murder into leverage. And the West keeps rewarding it. Every activist who romanticizes “resistance” while ignoring the death cult underneath is helping the machine run. Terrorism isn’t senseless anymore. It’s calibrated. It manipulates emotion, hijacks media, and bends policy. Until the civilized world stops rewarding it, it will keep working.
As I read this excellent review of terror, I saw one common thread of victim mentality that always needs a scapegoat. Jew hatred provided that for a long time and it still continues to exist.
"Hamas knew full well that Israel would go deep and wide into Gaza after they attacked in such a savage manner."
I don't think there is evidence of this: most indications are that Yahya Sinwar expected that the hostages would temper Israel's response and that their release could take years, as in the Gilad Shalit case.
Hamas does not seem to have prepared for a deep Israeli incursion into Gaza, which explains how in 2 1/2 years of urban warfare IDF casualties totalled 472 dead, orders of magnitude less than what Western "military experts" were predicting. The well-positioned antitank emplacements and machine gun nests were not there.
Terror only "works" when we confuse means and ends. They believe they are using terror to achieve political ends, but that's where they make their fundamental mistake.
terror *becomes* the end - terrified people don't do politics. Politics is for people who aren't terrified.
Does it work in that it creates protests by useful idiots and posts by pundits, sure. But opinion is not conviction, propaganda is not information. People will obey those they fear, but will never love them. They know they will be treated as the terrorists treat all innocents - only their blood is needed.
If we adopt their terms, we've lost. Safety and love are two deeply primal human needs - good people know this, smart people plan for this.
Terror has already defeated itself, we're just here to complete the process.
Terror works because of the moral flaccidity of too many in the West. My opinion is that many, many in the Islamic world love killing and use the Koran as a cover for their lust for violence.
Terrorism does work, there's no denying it. Peace and love only work after terrorists have won and are able to rule with an iron fist. So if our enemies are correct, and Isreal and the u.s. are terrorists, the time for peace has come. We've conquered gaza and Iran thanks to Tump and Netanyahu,now comes the peace, ruled with an iron fist. Someone has to be in charge, might as well be the good guys.
Terror works because the modern world lets it work. Kill civilians, film the horror, provoke retaliation, then weaponize the bodies for global sympathy. That’s the playbook. Hamas didn’t stumble into this strategy—it built it. The tunnels, the human shields, the media choreography, the moral theater: all designed to turn murder into leverage. And the West keeps rewarding it. Every activist who romanticizes “resistance” while ignoring the death cult underneath is helping the machine run. Terrorism isn’t senseless anymore. It’s calibrated. It manipulates emotion, hijacks media, and bends policy. Until the civilized world stops rewarding it, it will keep working.
As I read this excellent review of terror, I saw one common thread of victim mentality that always needs a scapegoat. Jew hatred provided that for a long time and it still continues to exist.
"Hamas knew full well that Israel would go deep and wide into Gaza after they attacked in such a savage manner."
I don't think there is evidence of this: most indications are that Yahya Sinwar expected that the hostages would temper Israel's response and that their release could take years, as in the Gilad Shalit case.
Hamas does not seem to have prepared for a deep Israeli incursion into Gaza, which explains how in 2 1/2 years of urban warfare IDF casualties totalled 472 dead, orders of magnitude less than what Western "military experts" were predicting. The well-positioned antitank emplacements and machine gun nests were not there.
Love Medusa's origin story. Good to see it.
I think the West is drowning. Left idiots don't learn independently but follow.... And taking us all down the drain .
Terror only "works" when we confuse means and ends. They believe they are using terror to achieve political ends, but that's where they make their fundamental mistake.
terror *becomes* the end - terrified people don't do politics. Politics is for people who aren't terrified.
Does it work in that it creates protests by useful idiots and posts by pundits, sure. But opinion is not conviction, propaganda is not information. People will obey those they fear, but will never love them. They know they will be treated as the terrorists treat all innocents - only their blood is needed.
If we adopt their terms, we've lost. Safety and love are two deeply primal human needs - good people know this, smart people plan for this.
Terror has already defeated itself, we're just here to complete the process.
That's why you can't wage 7th C wars with 21st C laws.
Terror works because of the moral flaccidity of too many in the West. My opinion is that many, many in the Islamic world love killing and use the Koran as a cover for their lust for violence.
Terrorism does work, there's no denying it. Peace and love only work after terrorists have won and are able to rule with an iron fist. So if our enemies are correct, and Isreal and the u.s. are terrorists, the time for peace has come. We've conquered gaza and Iran thanks to Tump and Netanyahu,now comes the peace, ruled with an iron fist. Someone has to be in charge, might as well be the good guys.