Waiting For The Next 9/11

To the Editor:

Some surprising news out of Cherry Hill, N.J., today: six “Islamic fundamentalists” were caught plotting to stage an attack against military personnel at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Three are illegal aliens. Imagine that! They were willing to die for Allah. In fact, according to the criminal complaint filed by the FBI in US District Court in New Jersey, the accused were rounded up following the observant actions of a video store clerk. These six young bon vivants had apparently made home movies and had them transferred to DVD. The DVD depicted ten young men who appeared to be in their early 20s shooting assault weapons at a firing range in a militialike style while calling for jihad and shouting in Arabic “Allah Akbar” (“God is Great”). Imagine that as well!

Congratulations and sincere thanks go to the video store clerk and the FBI for stopping these nutballs. How many more plots will we be able to stop?

The following appeared at the South Jersey Courier-Post OnLine and was written by Dana Forde, staff reporter: “Voorhees [N.J.] resident Zia Rahman was watching a television news station Tuesday morning when reports of a botched terrorist plot flashed across the screen. Rahman, who is managing director and trustee of the Muslim American Community Association and who led the opening of the first mosque in Voorhees, said the news is a setback for all communities across the nation. Rahman said he is disappointed that the Islamic religion, which is grounded in peace, has been distorted by the actions of  ‘people claiming themselves to be Muslims.’ Meanwhile, other members of the Muslim community say the media has been ‘irresponsible’ in using the term ‘Islamic militants’ to describe the suspects.” (Note to Zia et al: they beseeched Allah while firing an AK-47 —they qualify on the Islamic count and on the militant count.)

No doubt, irresponsible acts have been committed. Admitting these vermin into the country strikes me as irresponsible. The level of irresponsibility of acts committed to date, however, will pale in comparison to the action of any judge who would consider ever releasing these bloodthirsty psychopaths back into society. Swift justice at the end of a rope is the responsible fate that should await these youths “grounded in peace” should a jury of their peers find them guilty.

It is an outrageously frustrating fact of life in 2007 America that we appear destined to just wait — wait with porous, unsecured borders — wait with a media, an immigration system, a judicial system fraught with loopholes to benefit the enemy — wait for the next 9/11. And if Al Qaida’s involved (with their tendency to want to outdo themselves) as we’re all sure they hope to be, 9/11 Act 2 should be a whopper.

Brendan Duffy

4 Chestnut Knoll Drive, Sandy Hook                                May 9, 2007