Death to the Infidels

"The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies--civilians and military--is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible...We, with God's help, call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God's order to kill the Americans..."

    - Osama bin Laden, in Al-Quds al - 'Arabi, 2/23/1998

When I was much younger, I remember watching the movie Tora, Tora, Tora with my late father and seeing him become openly emotional as the Japanese torpedo bombers attacked our fleet at Pearl Harbor.  At the time, I didn't understand why he was getting so upset about a movie.  What I didn't understand, but now do, was how real it was for him, for he had been personally involved in those events. 

Today when I think about those aircraft crashing into the Trade Center buildings, I am still angry, just as my dad was when he watched the movie about Pearl Harbor. As I reflect on what these madmen did and what those of their ilk continue to plan for us, I get even more angry. 

Simply put, these people want to kill us.  They want to kill you, me, our families, our friends.  After what they've done, is there anyone who doubts they won't do more? Is there anyone who believes they wouldn't use a nuclear device if they had one?

Remember the story of Kitty Genovese, the woman who was killed in the street below her apartment as her neighbors watched from their windows? No one came to help her.  This country, like Kitty, will get little help from its neighbors.  

These Islamic extremists want to take our lives, and will, unless we kill or capture them first.  They will not negotiate.  They will not compromise.  They are willing to commit suicide to achieve their ends.  We're in a war unlike any we've ever been in.  The sooner we understand that, the sooner this cancer that is eating away at the freedoms we've fought so long and so hard to preserve can be defeated.  I hope we have the will to prevail.