The issues we should pay attention to are numerous. One of great importance is "terrorism." Ironically, terrorism is a word that Franco Frattini, Justice and Security Commissioner of the European Union, has banned. He also called for allowing 20 million more Muslims to immigrate to the European Union, basically surrendering to illegal immigration. It's suggested that he may be a distant relative of Harry Reid.
Terrorism is a subject that has been beat to death and it may seem that we have a handle on it. Though we've had no major attacks since September 11, still it deserves another look.Not that Homeland Security isn't looking, but maybe we need some perspective on terrorist attacks in the overall scheme of things. Take for instance the cost to wage war, conventional versus terrorism.
There is no comparison. A dozen terrorists who manage to work under the radar such as in the 9-11 attack can wreck havoc, kill and injure thousands of people and inflict billions of dollars worth of property damage to say nothing of the ensuing cost to respond and take measures to safeguard against future attacks. Since 9-11 we've spent well over a trillion dollars on keeping America safe. The cost to terrorists is a few lives of martyrs and a few thousand dollars to train and supply them. The bad guys win by a huge margin.
The question is whether we can continue to play this game the way we have. There seems no choice but to fight the good fight.
It is also wise to ask whether "high-tech" warfare will win the day. Our drones and missiles can effectively disrupt the enemy but often it's only temporarily. And as in the case of terrorist attacks, the costs disadvantage is against us. We are placed at a significant disadvantage fighting an enemy halfway around the globe, and lasting success is at best doubtful. The foe seems to have an endless supply of willing martyrs who do not value life as we do.
Americans are accused of being Islamaphobic because we are uneasy about Muslims in the U.S., a country that many Muslims chose but now want to live by their own rules, customs and laws. One can't help but believe that our freedoms and rule of law were what attracted them initially and their actions have the appearance at best of ingratitude and at worst subversion.
While most Muslims in the USA may be peace loving and unsympathetic to radical Islam causes, we are only too aware that in the case of terrorism it only takes a few and it doesn't matter whether they are "homegrown" or "imported" to inflict major damage. It can't be enough to say you are against radical Islam; you must actively defend your country otherwise you may be in the wrong country. There are opportunities for American Muslims to step up and help in the fight against a common foe. It comes down to a case of being for us or against us.
If we lose the ability, either through complacency or by design such as politically correct self-imposed restraints, to determine who in this country would destroy us, we lose, period.
Also, Democrats have repeatedly used the analogy of Republicans driving the economy into the ditch during this political season. A more accurate analogy would be that of a hook and ladder fire truck with rear steering with Republicans driving and Democrats steering. Moral of story: it takes teamwork to be successful.
And passing legislation in Congress, specifically the 2,000-plus page health care reform bill, has been compared to "sausage-making"; it's messy work. It was even suggested that we had to "pass the bill to find out what's in it."
We should ask whether we elect lawmakers or butchers.
And finally our Vice President Joe Biden's "Recovery Summer" surfaced as the "Winter of Our Discontent" on Nov. 2.
Reynolds lives in Pleasant View.
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