The Passing of Danger

Submitted by Steve Ralston (United States), Dec 23, 2005 at 01:14

Your recent article, "My Gloom: Back to September 10," unfortunately hit the point. However, I would hasten to point out that there are many who are not convinced the danger has past. In fact, some of us feel the dangers have only increased.
Americans have been deliberately lulled into a state of mind that not only has some thinking terrorism is "just a nuisance," but also that it may have never been a threat. In my opinion, for most, such a position is preposterous & incredibly dangerous. I pray my opinion that a majority have not been lulled into this state of mind, is accurate.

The "Islamic Caliphate" that has been dismissed by liberal leftist media pundits, is an idea that many of the leaders of the terrorist movement have openly espoused, and often. To discredit it or dismiss it as imaginary in President Bush's mind, is irresponsible & perhaps criminally so.

I also feel that if attacked again (or should I say, when attacked again), many in America will stand up and begin to scream loudly for laws and methods that deal with the threats of terrorists, as harshly as possible. The false mythologies that terrorists are just misunderstood people who have been abused & subjected to bigoted treatment, will be exposed for the generally baseless allegations they are.
I agree there may be times when the Israeli's may have or are exceeding the legal limits they are obliged to follow. However, I also feel most of those circumstances are a result of affronts to Israeli law, that includes the murder of innocents. The ends do not justify the means, but they do provide for asserting reasonable mitigating circumstances. Calling for the eradication of Israel certainly qualifies as mitigating. No people should live under such threats & especially when the threats emanate from people who have demonstrated a genuine desire & posses the capability to actually follow through with the threats.

Terrorists enjoy spectacular acts of violence in the pursuit of their goals. Ironically such insidious acts incite the indignation of decent people. And that indignation will surely lead to crackdowns, prosecution, and elimination of those behind or involved in the attacks. Each time terrorists & their sympathizers celebrate the losses of life & destruction of property when attacks take place, they create opportunity for justifications of harsh responses to be presented by those who want vengeance. Some Americans may have been lulled into complacency since 9-11, but it would be foolhardy of any to believe this complacency cannot be replaced with justifiable retribution.
Just after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, a Japanese Admiral commented that he was afraid all they had done was awaken a sleeping giant. That American giant may have been slumbering for a few decades and may have even pushed the snooze button after 9-11. However, eventually the alarm will go off again, and in the context of capabilities today, it is my opinion the response will be swift, sure, & incredibly devastating to the attackers.

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