After the barbaric attacks of September 11, I visited ground
zero to witness firsthand the carnage in my city. I was proud to
compare the reaction of the average New Yorker to the behavior of
those stalwart Brits during the London Blitz of World War II.
Once again yesterday, Londoners responded with remarkable courage
and firm resolve.
Many Americans seem not to realize that 67 Britons lost their
lives on 9/11. What has seemed extraordinary to me since that day
has been a reluctance on the part of many in Britain to disavow
the Islamic extremists in their midst who brazenly held
conferences applauding the terrorist attacks that killed
Americans and their own countrymen. One has to wonder if that
excess of tolerance will decline after yesterday's savage
attacks.
Prime Minister Blair made this announcement after the London
bombings:
"We know that these people act in the name of Islam, but we
also know that the vast and overwhelming majority of Muslims both
here and abroad are decent and law-abiding people who abhor this
kind of terrorism every bit as much as we do."
A press release sent by the communications director, Ibrahim
Hooper, for the largest Muslim civil-rights organization, said
the following:
"The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joins
Americans of all faiths, and all people of conscience worldwide,
in condemning Thursday's bomb attacks in London as barbaric
crimes that can never be justified or excused. American Muslims
offer their sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who
were killed or injured in the attacks and call for the swift
apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators."
Sincere condolences are simply not enough anymore. The entire
world is dealing with a fanaticism that will not cease, because
it's getting too much support and not enough condemnation from
some Islamic imams.
President Putin of Russia said it best after the London subway
and bus attacks: "But what happened today demonstrates yet
again that we are doing too little to unite our efforts in the
most effective way in the battle against terrorism."
For the past decade, Russia has been battling Chechen rebels, and
the Chechen fight, which began as a secular, separatist cause,
has escalated into international terrorism. Why? Because Arab and
other mercenaries have provided the rebels with funds, training,
and leadership. After what happened to those poor Russian
children killed in Beslan by Chechen rebels, one would think the
world would have awakened to the savagery of our enemy. It's an
enemy that thrives on death, and it does not represent a valid
religion. It is a deadly cult.
One hopes that these attacks will open the eyes of the hostile
British press, which has been attacking England's involvement in
the war on terrorism. The Western world is under siege.
Here in New York, subway riders will be eyeing their fellow
passengers more suspiciously, and we can expect many alarms, real
and false, to be sounded.
Watching the footage of the attack's aftermath on TV, I was
deeply impressed by the courage demonstrated by the ordinary
citizens who expressed their intentions to continue their daily
routines despite the terror threats. The term "stiff upper
lip" is not to be taken lightly. It is what Londoners have
always worn in the most harrowing of times.
When I was a child during the Cold War, searchlights would scan
the Manhattan sky at night for possible enemy aircraft. On
television, old movies such as "Mrs. Miniver," would
depict how ordinary people survived the German bombers. I
wondered then how anyone could live under such daily pressure. On
9/11, I'd like to think, we demonstrated the same courage and
strength that Londoners have always displayed and are still
exhibiting today.
I have the deepest sympathy for our courageous partners in
London. I also know that the stupid, cowardly bombers again have
no idea who they are dealing with.