"surrender or die"

What happens when that choice is given to Islamic militants?

Perhaps Pakistan's President, General Pervez Musharraf, should have consulted with the Lebanese Army - which has been battling Fatah al-Islam fighters for over a month and a half - before issuing such an ultimatum to the extremists who sieged the Red Mosque in Islamabad last week. There are lessons to be learned from Northern Lebanon:

Those who are ordered to surrender do not consider it, talking instead of martyrdom.

Those who may want to surrender cannot: The Lebanese media has reported that Fatah al-Islam is fighting in groups, rather than as individuals, so that commanders can "keep an eye on their fighters" and prevent them from surrendering.

Finally: those who do not deserve to die, too often, do.