Good riddance, sheik

If the United States ever has the chance to take out Osama bin Laden, should we do it? Or, out of concern that eliminating him would stir al-Qaida's anger, should we leave him be? Even the harshest critics of President George W. Bush's war on terror would say that if we can nail bin Laden, we should.

We raise this because of the heat Israel is taking from many quarters for nailing quadriplegic Sheik Ahmed Yassin with a missile in Gaza City Monday. Yassin was the spiritual godfather to the terrorist group Hamas, just as bin Laden is to al-Qaida.

The wonder is Israel didn't take Yassin out sooner. As Hamas' war leader, he's been a legitimate target for a long time.

The sheik played a central role in founding Hamas in 1988. Hamas has only one goal - the destruction of Israel. Under Yassin, Hamas opposed peace talks at every turn and proudly took credit for terrorist ambushes, mortar attacks and suicide bombings that killed hundreds of innocent Israeli men, women and children.

As word of the sheik's death spread, thousands of Palestinians flocked to the streets vowing retaliation - not only against Israel, but the United States, as well, for supporting Israel.

So what else is new? Islamic terrorists are always plotting against Israel and her allies. How could Hamas be any more aggressive or dangerous without the sheik than with him?

These are people who wire an unsuspecting 11-year-old boy with a bomb to kill Israelis. No group can sink lower - willing to sacrifice children to further its twisted, hateful cause. Clearly, the world is better off without the "godfather" who planned and applauded such gruesome acts of horror.