What they said on PBS last night was that Arafat wouldn't use the police forces to fight the Israelis, and the Jenin residents were angry. They said Arafat was in a similar position as Sharon, in that the more extreme elements of his people were unhappy with anything short of all-out war.

Now, that's what they said. May be full of BS more than PBS, but it seemed reasonable, and no one argued with the thesis, even though there were Israeli spokespeople there.

I've been wondering about those "bomb factories". I don't know anything about standard issue for a suicide bomber. Doesn't stop me from imagining.

I would guess you'd need an explosive, some projectiles, and maybe a nylon belt or vest into which to put these. Would want some short lengths of wire, an initiator or detonator, and a battery. May have the stuff in something about the size of beer cans, with 8 or 10 or twelve in little pockets in the belt.

May be built like big Claymores, with the entire belt the bomb. I don't know.

I would assume, though, that the explosive is imported, manufactured somewhere else. That stuff is widely available on the world scene in two, five and ten ton lots. You'd have to import the precursors to make the good stuff, anyway, may as well just import the explosive.

The nylon could be had at the local fabric shop, and the projectiles are easily obtainable. The detonator would be imported with the explosive, and I'm sure your local international arms dealer might throw some in. The wire and battery obtained locally.

So, the "bomb factory" would be where these could be assembled. Might be a kitchen table, with a sewing machine and a pair of scissors. Heck, there are glues which would eliminate the need for the sewing machine.

If those assumptions are correct, and they seem reasonable to me, then the Israelis can call any house they chose a "bomb factory". Anyplace with a table and chair, maybe a park bench, or a bedside stand. Now it can be blown up, with or without the inhabitants.

"Bomb factory" sounds so malevolent, so evil. No one could blame them. Heck, bedrooms and maternity wards could be called "terrorist factories", too. The possibilities are endless.

Arf