Hemingway would be jealous.

Maybe you should take Larry back to L.A. with you and head for the shooting range -- two former Bensonhurst boys in fine form.

I wish I had something intelligent to say, but all I can think of is "Wow!"

Be safe!

Dear Robert and Karen,

A great story! Reminds me of the time in 2003 when my son Zac and I were in Kiryat Arba for Shabbat staying with my friend Yoni and his family. The most excitement I've ever had walking to shul was with Yoni who was "packin" a 357 Magnum. When we arrived in shul just a few blocks away, the beis medrash was packed with lots of dads, little kids and an assortment of pistols, rifles and automatic weapons that would have delighted many a Chicago hoodlum. It was a sight to behold! Be safe!

I remain ...

Very Sincerely yours,

Alan D. Busch

Wow. I remember when that happened... I was in Israel at the time, and was either just in or about to go to Efrat. Incredible.

Jeremiah:

Thanks so much for the lovely compliment.

Pearl:

Larry never leaves Israel. Besides, he's needed here. You never know...

Joannah:

We're fine. Safer here than in Detroit. Check out the stats.

Alan:

I love sitting and watching the soldiers--Jewish soldiers with their weapons. Isarel would warm the heart of every NRA member.

Ezzie:

This incident was a real shock to Efrat because the Arab terrorist was known and liked by all the residents here. But guess what? I look outside my window and what do I see? Arab workers building houses in Efrat.

Madness.

Just discovered your blog. This is an incredible story! I'm from South Carolina, and we have a standing joke down here about sending the BSF to take care of the terrorists in the world (Bubba Special Forces). The mission guidance is that; the season is open, there is no limit, and they taste like chicken; they hate Jesus, Elvis, and Nascar; and are directly responsible for the death of Dale Earnhardt.

This should take care of the situation in about one week.

Robert - it is not "madness" to hire Arabs to build the houses. Yes, it is preferable to hire Jews if possible. But if you can't, then the next best thing to do is hire Arabs (after all, most of them just want to support their families) and post guards on them, which is what we do where I live. It sounds like a crazy reality - but that is the way it is here. Sort of like "trust, but verify" Israeli style.

Sad, but GREAT! But the only question I have is, "was he denied his 72 virgins?"

You do what you have to do or you die, right? If Shimon Peres' "peace partners" want to engage in mass murder, they must be stopped or they'll take innocent Jewish lives. They've forfeited their right to life when they aid and abet terrorists and terrorism. The leopard hasn't changed its spots. They must go or Israel will.

Jim:

Glad you enjoy the story. We're glad to hear about BSF; they sound like a fine addition to the war on terror.

West Bank Mama:

I understand that the Israeli economy is inextricably linked to cheap Arab labor. However, this gives the jihadists an easy entre into Jewish homes, hence it makes killing Jews that much easier.

Carl:

Fine theological question: if a jihadist fails to slaughter Jews is he denied his 72 virgins?

Possible answers:

1. He gets 72 skanks.
2. He gets 72 virgin... olives.
3. He just goes straight to hell with the rest of the jihadists.

I don't understand the psychology of the suicide bombers. I think I can just barely understand some of the psychology of the kamikazes in World War II, but the thinking of suicide bombers eludes me. I think it's the face-to-face contact with the civilians they're about to murder that baffles me the most.

About the only handle I can get on this is that both the suicide bombers and the kamikazes came out of a culture of shame.

If it's not too colorful for your blog, may I suggest another answer to the question about the fate of a failed suicide bomber: He doesn't get the virgins, but he still gets screwed 72 times.

Kent:

There is no reason to "understand" the homicide bombers--merely to hate and oppose them -- and to battle the twisted Islamic ideologies and societies that spawn and support them.

As for the fate of failed suicide bombers. Screwed 72 times is not too colorful for our blog. It is funny and appropriate. As we have said many times, Seraphic Secret strongly encourages heaping contempt on these vile human monsters and their supporters. Humor is great weapon.

Robert,

The one reason to try to "understand" is the hope that it will give you a better chance to reason with them from their own perspective. With the suicide bombers, that's clearly a forlorn hope, but hope is not entirely rational.

To be clear where I stand: This was certainly a justified homicide.

Kent:

To be clear where I stand: I am extremely cautious about "understanding" the motives of jihadists for this inevitably leads to completely wrong conlusions; Bono-like "root causes" like poverty and unemployment, when the truth is somewhat starker: pure evil.

We never tried to "understand" the Nazis or the Japanese, did we? We just went ahead and killed as many of them as possible. Hence, we won.

Thanks so much for your clarification.

Robert,

"Understand" is not a synonym for "sympathize" even if the Left seems to think so.

I understand that many Nazis found hatred for Jews to be a welcome distraction from their own problems. I suppose the suicide bombers might be the same way. That doesn't mean I sympathize. Mad dogs need to be put down.

You may be right that even this kind of understanding doesn't really help the situation, and it is probably a waste of time to pursue it.

Kent:

You are quite right and eloquent when you state that "even this kind of understanding doesn't really help the situation, and it is probably a waste of time to pursue it."

We are at war and any distractions, especially the intellectual masturbatory leftists exercises are not only a waste of time, but at the core, flag weakness and appeasement to the enemy.

Unfortunately, the left does not understand this simple and common sense truth.

we got along just fine

The parable of the scorpion and the frog.

Purple Avenger:

A fine and appropriate thought. Thanks.

Please let your mother know how much we at Seraphic Press admire the way she handled that PETA thug.

Classic.

My first thoughts are this guys a Hero!
My second thoughts are ones of pity for that poor bullet! I mean what did that bullet do wrong to be stuck in such a waste of human life? One can only hope that bullet was retrieved and recast to be used again. Hopefully in another terrorist or two. Here's to many happy returns in all it's incarnations!!

Allen:

My buddy Larry would just break into laughter if you called him a hero. Really, he'd just say, "Anyone would have done it."

Which is simply not true. Many would have simply frozen, and died in a hail of shrapnel laced with rat poison. Or fled and let others die. Or not followed the terrorist into the market.

As for the bullet. It was put to the best possible use. It cost maybe a dollar. Saved a few dozen lives. Personally, I think the bullet is in a happy place: bullet heaven :)

Thanks so much for writing. I'll forward your note to my buddy in Israel. He'll get a kick out of being called a hero.