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America, Despite Constant Threat Of Terror, Kept Safe By Patriot Act
By JANE GILVARY, For The Bulletin
Another terror plot against Americans was foiled this past week, bringing the total number of attacks averted since September 11, 2001 to 27. The alleged terror suspect this time – another Muslim extremist bringing “peace” to America in the name of Islam. Tarek Mehanna, who defiantly threw his chair in court last week and refused to stand for the judge, hails from the quiet Boston suburb of Sudbury, Mass., where he was allegedly plotting to kill to U.S. politicians and attack shopping malls using automatic weapons.
Reports from Fox News in Boston say that Mr. Mehanna was “considered a typical American kid by those who know him,” but his arrest is a chilling reminder to all Americans that the threat of radical Islam is still very real and extremely clandestine.
Clearly the much debated Patriot Act is keeping our country safe given the number of thwarted attacks to date. The current administration would be wise to renew the Patriot Act at the end of this year when three of its principal measures will expire. President Obama has indicated his support for extending these measures which allow for roving wiretaps, warrants for business records, and monitoring of “lone wolf” terror suspects.
Not surprisingly, the ACLU, whose mission statement is eerily similar to the Communist Manifesto, is among those opposed to renewing the Act’s measures. By protecting us from danger, however, the Patriot Act fulfills the government’s role to “provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States” as delineated in our Constitution.
The Patriot Act, whose opponents contend violates certain rights to privacy, has been principal in uniting local, state and federal law enforcement efforts to protect Americans from the threat of extremists like Mr. Mehanna, and also recently Najibullah Zazi, the 24-year-old terror suspect recently indicted on charges of planning a series of bombings on New York City subways. In fact, evidence against Mr. Zazi and his father were obtained through legal wiretaps.
But the arrests of Mr. Mehanna and Mr. Zazi and others like them are unsettling for two reasons: First, when 26 out of the 27 schemes to harm America have been hatched by radical Muslims, the law of probability suggests that perhaps our local and national law enforcement should monitor this demographic more closely. Unfortunately, political correctness and fear of racial profiling accusations hinder these efforts somewhat. But rooting out terrorists is more an issue of probability based upon past attacks than it is an issue of race or religion. Statistics don’t lie. So, why do many of the mainstream media outlets insist on referring to terror suspects by their American names instead of the Muslim names by which they are known?
Second, most Muslims living in the United States are peaceful and ordinary citizens. Therein lies the conundrum, however, since so many of the thwarted attacks involved extremists who settled into our neighborhoods, schools, and communities—like Mr. Mehanna. They are the fringe minority, dangerous zealots who don’t represent the peaceful Muslim majority. We don’t know who the extremists are and feel blind-sided when they are discovered in our midst, living in our vicinity. The 9/11 hijackers assimilated nicely into American life so as to be unsuspected in their schemes to fly planes into our most cherished symbols of prosperity and freedom.
But any sort of suspicion on our part is viewed as bigoted and intolerant; terrorists understand this about American cultural mores and take full advantage of it by coveting sympathetic coverage from the media. Is the shepherd wrong to assume that wolves are the greatest danger to his flock of sheep?
Organizations like CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) claim to condemn terrorism on all fronts, yet, CAIR officials consistently support Hamas and Hezbollah, U.S. designated terror groups. CAIR cried foul back in January of this year when the FBI ceased all contact with the group over concern about its ties to Hamas which, since 1995, is illegal to support in the United States.
So, what’s the solution? We should support organizations like The Investigative Project on terrorism – probably “the world’s most comprehensive data center on radical Islamic terrorist groups.” We should support individuals who courageously look to safeguard America everyday by revealing the dangers Islamic extremism poses to America; people like Pamela Geller, Nonie Darwish, Daniel Pipes, and Robert Spencer lecture, write books and blog about jihadist activity around the world. We can also encourage our representatives in Congress and our President to renew the Patriot Act and all of its provisions that have kept us safe since 9/11.
Americans must also demand the Muslim community’s unconditional, sincere condemnation of terror on all fronts in the United States. The peaceful Muslim majority needs our support as well. Many of them live in fear of reprisals or repercussions from Islamic extremists for their support of the American way of life. We need to be vigilant and aware of what is happening in our communities and schools and report any suspicions to the authorities. Sharia law must not be allowed to gain purchase in our culture as it infringes upon basic human rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must insist that the laws outlined in our Constitution remain the only laws by which we are ever governed.
Jane Gilvary is a freelance writer and a student in the graduate Writing Studies Program at St. Joseph’s University.
Reports from Fox News in Boston say that Mr. Mehanna was “considered a typical American kid by those who know him,” but his arrest is a chilling reminder to all Americans that the threat of radical Islam is still very real and extremely clandestine.
Clearly the much debated Patriot Act is keeping our country safe given the number of thwarted attacks to date. The current administration would be wise to renew the Patriot Act at the end of this year when three of its principal measures will expire. President Obama has indicated his support for extending these measures which allow for roving wiretaps, warrants for business records, and monitoring of “lone wolf” terror suspects.
Not surprisingly, the ACLU, whose mission statement is eerily similar to the Communist Manifesto, is among those opposed to renewing the Act’s measures. By protecting us from danger, however, the Patriot Act fulfills the government’s role to “provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States” as delineated in our Constitution.
The Patriot Act, whose opponents contend violates certain rights to privacy, has been principal in uniting local, state and federal law enforcement efforts to protect Americans from the threat of extremists like Mr. Mehanna, and also recently Najibullah Zazi, the 24-year-old terror suspect recently indicted on charges of planning a series of bombings on New York City subways. In fact, evidence against Mr. Zazi and his father were obtained through legal wiretaps.
But the arrests of Mr. Mehanna and Mr. Zazi and others like them are unsettling for two reasons: First, when 26 out of the 27 schemes to harm America have been hatched by radical Muslims, the law of probability suggests that perhaps our local and national law enforcement should monitor this demographic more closely. Unfortunately, political correctness and fear of racial profiling accusations hinder these efforts somewhat. But rooting out terrorists is more an issue of probability based upon past attacks than it is an issue of race or religion. Statistics don’t lie. So, why do many of the mainstream media outlets insist on referring to terror suspects by their American names instead of the Muslim names by which they are known?
Second, most Muslims living in the United States are peaceful and ordinary citizens. Therein lies the conundrum, however, since so many of the thwarted attacks involved extremists who settled into our neighborhoods, schools, and communities—like Mr. Mehanna. They are the fringe minority, dangerous zealots who don’t represent the peaceful Muslim majority. We don’t know who the extremists are and feel blind-sided when they are discovered in our midst, living in our vicinity. The 9/11 hijackers assimilated nicely into American life so as to be unsuspected in their schemes to fly planes into our most cherished symbols of prosperity and freedom.
But any sort of suspicion on our part is viewed as bigoted and intolerant; terrorists understand this about American cultural mores and take full advantage of it by coveting sympathetic coverage from the media. Is the shepherd wrong to assume that wolves are the greatest danger to his flock of sheep?
Organizations like CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) claim to condemn terrorism on all fronts, yet, CAIR officials consistently support Hamas and Hezbollah, U.S. designated terror groups. CAIR cried foul back in January of this year when the FBI ceased all contact with the group over concern about its ties to Hamas which, since 1995, is illegal to support in the United States.
So, what’s the solution? We should support organizations like The Investigative Project on terrorism – probably “the world’s most comprehensive data center on radical Islamic terrorist groups.” We should support individuals who courageously look to safeguard America everyday by revealing the dangers Islamic extremism poses to America; people like Pamela Geller, Nonie Darwish, Daniel Pipes, and Robert Spencer lecture, write books and blog about jihadist activity around the world. We can also encourage our representatives in Congress and our President to renew the Patriot Act and all of its provisions that have kept us safe since 9/11.
Americans must also demand the Muslim community’s unconditional, sincere condemnation of terror on all fronts in the United States. The peaceful Muslim majority needs our support as well. Many of them live in fear of reprisals or repercussions from Islamic extremists for their support of the American way of life. We need to be vigilant and aware of what is happening in our communities and schools and report any suspicions to the authorities. Sharia law must not be allowed to gain purchase in our culture as it infringes upon basic human rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must insist that the laws outlined in our Constitution remain the only laws by which we are ever governed.
Jane Gilvary is a freelance writer and a student in the graduate Writing Studies Program at St. Joseph’s University.
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TaniaGail wrote on Nov 1, 2009 9:37 AM:
Cambridge, Mass.
Chelsea, Mass.
Orleans, Mass.
Springfield
Interesting that states with numerous sanctuary cities and a definitive left leaning political climate seem to cultivate Islamic terror cells as well. "