After watching the response in Massachusetts to the marathon bombing and last night's shoot out with the perpetrators, I was struck by how these events bring home to Americans just what this type of terrorism is all about. After all, it has been twelve years since the 9-11 attacks and there are large groups of people who actually have no first hand memories of that event. Further, these smaller bombings have thankfully not been seen in America until now. This has permitted many to have a warped view of terrorism and the terrorists.
Let me explain: there are large numbers of people, particularly on college campuses, who condemn the Israelis for running an "apartheid state". This is a reference to the wall that the Israelis constructed between the West Bank and Israel proper in order to keep terrorists from infiltrating into Israel for their attacks. The "apartheid" claim is a joke, since there are over a million Moslems who live on the Israeli side of the wall, but the wall keeps the terrorists out. In 2001 through 2004, there were 127 separate terror bombings in Israel. Think of it: there were 127 attacks like the one in Boston. Some were much more deadly; many resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people with hundreds more injured. After 127 such attacks the Israelis built the wall and the attacks were cut drastically. In the three years after the wall was completed, there were only 6 bomb attacks.
After the Boston attack, most Americans should now fully understand what led to the construction of the wall at Israel's border. It was not apartheid; it was just common sense and a desire for safety.
So how does this new understanding translate to our current American problems? For one thing, this bombing ought to put new pressure on Washington to secure our borders with Mexico. Sure, so far most of those who amble across the border are looking for work, and very small numbers are bringing drugs. But what happens when the terror groups decide to exploit that weakness that America refuses to end? Will there be bombings in Phoenix and Los Angeles every day? Will folks realize that border security has nothing to do with racism and everything to do with safety? I hope so. To be clear, I have no strong view about reforming the immigration laws. It is imperative, however, that we secure the border. Some day, people's lives may well depend on it.
Let me explain: there are large numbers of people, particularly on college campuses, who condemn the Israelis for running an "apartheid state". This is a reference to the wall that the Israelis constructed between the West Bank and Israel proper in order to keep terrorists from infiltrating into Israel for their attacks. The "apartheid" claim is a joke, since there are over a million Moslems who live on the Israeli side of the wall, but the wall keeps the terrorists out. In 2001 through 2004, there were 127 separate terror bombings in Israel. Think of it: there were 127 attacks like the one in Boston. Some were much more deadly; many resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people with hundreds more injured. After 127 such attacks the Israelis built the wall and the attacks were cut drastically. In the three years after the wall was completed, there were only 6 bomb attacks.
After the Boston attack, most Americans should now fully understand what led to the construction of the wall at Israel's border. It was not apartheid; it was just common sense and a desire for safety.
So how does this new understanding translate to our current American problems? For one thing, this bombing ought to put new pressure on Washington to secure our borders with Mexico. Sure, so far most of those who amble across the border are looking for work, and very small numbers are bringing drugs. But what happens when the terror groups decide to exploit that weakness that America refuses to end? Will there be bombings in Phoenix and Los Angeles every day? Will folks realize that border security has nothing to do with racism and everything to do with safety? I hope so. To be clear, I have no strong view about reforming the immigration laws. It is imperative, however, that we secure the border. Some day, people's lives may well depend on it.
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