Ken Berwitz

There is a major Islamic fundamentalist terrorism episode in progress.  This time it is taking place in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India.

Two major hotels have been ravaged.  The death toll approaches (or by this time may have exceeded) 100, with many more injured.  Innocent travelers are hiding in locked rooms praying they will not be taken hostage, or worse.

Additionally, with the due diligence that is a hallmark of well planned Islamic terrorist acts, a Jewish venue was found (yes, in Mumbai) and there are deaths and injuries there as well

An entire country is terrorized, Jews in particular are reminded of the terrorist goal that they be singled out for slaughter and the western world is scared - with good reason - that Mumbai is only part of the current attack.

Yesterday's news reports told us there was a credible threat to Penn Station in New York City as well.  The indications pointed to a massive strike in that hub of transportation, supplemented with bombs to be detonated in train stations and on moving trains throughout the city.  So far it has not happened.  But that doesn't mean it wasn't about to, and it doesn't mean that it won't in the near future.

The lesson to be learned here is hugely frustrating, because it is at once so simple, and so easy for intelligent people to unlearn in a matter of months or just a few years. 

The lesson is that the free world, especially western civilization, is engaged in a war.  The war we are engaged in is ongoing.  It takes place every day.  The fact that weeks, or months, or years go by without a terrorist act like this does not mean the war is over, it means the next attack is being planned.

How fast do we forget?  Think about our awareness of this reality after 9/11.  Now think about the tiny number of voters indicating terrorism was a major issue in the last presidential election.  Do you have any doubt that the same poll would show different results today? 

My fervent hope is that the horror in Mumbai is an irrevocable wake-up call for people everywhere.  But especially for Barack Obama and some of the people around him in congress.  The ACLU and moveon.org are not going to protect us from radical fundamentalist Islam. Fighting it successfully is our only chance. 

For years, mainstream media have taken pains to assure us that fighting is not the answer, that we have to somehow "understand" the perpetrators of these attacks. 

I partially agree. 

I agree we have to understand that if we do not fight them they will eventually take over, eradicate our culture and put us under shari'a law.

That is the lesson we must learn from the Mumbai terror.  How I hope that we, as a country, learn it well, and - this time - don't quickly forget it.