Submitted by Stuart Hersh, Feb 20, 2008 14:27

As one of the seven victims and family members in the Jenny Rubin case, I am beginning to wonder whether the words conscience and free world is not a contradiction in terms or a euphemism for the terms political expediency or appeasement.

Given the world's concern for Iranian-sponsored terrorism and their nuclear program, one could only conclude that opposing them would include freezing their assets for the purpose of compensating their victims. Thereby making the guilty pay for their crimes against the innocent, and providing for the rehabilitation and rebuilding of those lives that the terrorist supporters deemed untermenschen(subhuman). After all, were it not for their support, Hamas and Hizba'allah could not have the ability to carry out such acts of cowardice.

Moreover, recent history has proven, beyond any reasonable doubt, that military action alone cannot defeat terrorism. Such a war, requires that the enemy pay for its crimes of aggression and compensate those that they have aggressed as support bases for the aggressors. This means a permanent loss of those assets necessary to carry out their policies against the Jews and the rest of the Free World.

Let's view the practical and humanitarian side of the terror victims' compensation demand - justice and humanitarianism. On a political level, the actions of the US State, Treasury and Justice Departments have proven that any attempts to freeze the assets of terrorists and their sponsors, by itself, are as ineffective as diplomacy. This, since the strength of the action is dependent upon the whim of the governments. For such an act, alone, serves no viable or useful purpose. However, were those funds to be given to the victims for the purpose of rebuilding their shattered bodies and lives, the Free World would be sending a clear message to the terrorists and their support bases that continuing these policies will be costly.

Were the judicial-awarded compensation paid to the victims, the money would be used for humanitarian purposes. We, the living victims of Iranian-supported terrorism, not only suffered traumatic effects both physically and psychologically, we also suffer economically, socially (both within and without our family and community relations). In addition, until there is some hope for comprehensive rehabilitation, we are fated to continue to live this nightmare for the rest of our lives. Furthermore, some of us are compelled to continue to live on charity and Government-sponsored social security payments. This means that in addition to the terrorists and their sponsors having caused us to feel violated, as if we were mugged or raped, our self -esteem is further eroded day-by-day through the constant nightmare of our physical and psychological pain. We already know where Iran's frozen assets are allocated, as they are returned to her, as in the case of Italy and the US, who have already returned all or a significant portion of their holdings.

Consider the positive effects of such funds on a country's economy. Reduction in dependency on Government-sponsored disability and medical insurance costs, charities, the improvement of the victim's self-esteem to the point where they can return to the workforce. This adds up to the restoration of human dignity, an irrevocable right of every human being, which was destroyed by the terrorists and their sponsors.

Therefore, I ask those of the ruling elite in the free world, Do you want to remain part of the problem or become part of the solution.

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