Nate Perkins writes:
Abu Nidal was a threat to Israel primarily. I don't think we ought to be
in the business of fighting wars by proxy for Israel.


Nate hard to know whether you are just ignorant or garden variety
anti-Semitic in your reflexive vilification of Israel.

However, according to the US Navy Web Site
(http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/tgp/abu.htm), none of his major
attacks were directly against Israel and only one was against an
obvious "Jewish" target. Most of his attacks were against European and
US targets plus some against rivals in the PLO terrorist group. Also
he was directly supported by Iraq and lived there until his death in
200 (which by the way is after Sept 11, 2001 and supports the
contention that Iraq continued to support terrorism even after the
watershed events of Sept 11).

Here are some quotes from the Navy website.
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Activities
The ANO has carried out terrorist attacks in 20 countries, killing or
injuring almost 900 persons. Targets include the United States, the
United Kingdom, France, Israel, moderate Palestinians, the PLO, and
various Arab countries. Major attacks included the Rome and Vienna
airports in 1985, the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, the hijacking
of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi in 1986, and the City of Poros
day-excursion ship attack in Greece in 1988. The ANO is suspected of
assassinating PLO deputy chief Abu Iyad and PLO security chief Abu Hul
in Tunis in 1991. The ANO assassinated a Jordanian diplomat in Lebanon
in 1994 and has been linked to the killing of the PLO representative
there. The group has not staged a major attack against Western targets
since the late 1980s.

Strength
Few hundred plus limited overseas support structure.

Location/Area of Operation
Al-Banna relocated to Iraq in December 1998, where the group maintains
a Al-Banna relocated to Iraq in December 1998 where the group
maintained a presence until Operation Iraqi Freedom, but its current
status in country is unknown. Known members have an operational
presence in Lebanon, including in several Palestinian refugee
camps. Authorities shut down the ANOs operations in Libya and Egypt
in 1999. The group has demonstrated the ability to operate over a wide
area, including the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. However, financial
problems and internal disorganization have greatly reduced the groups
activities and its ability to maintain cohesive terrorist capability.

External Aid
The ANO received considerable support, including safe haven, training,
logistical assistance, and financial aid from Iraq, Libya, and Syria
(until 1987), in addition to close support for selected operations.