In the real world: It's time to stop pretending we can reason with terrorists

The difference between the realities of the world and what we might like them to be are sometimes stark -- especially in an age when people desperately want to believe that there are good people in the world and that every conflict can be ended with a handshake.

So, it is not surprising that some Americans really believe that the war with Islamic extremists can be solved with understanding and conversation.

But on Wednesday and then again on Friday, the world got a wake-up call -- and it is one that, hopefully, will resonate throughout Washington as another session of Congress begins.

Islamic extremists executed 11 people on Wednesday at a newspaper office on a busy Paris street and a police officer outside the building.

They did it because they were insulted by the newspaper's stance that it would continue to print satirical cartoons and commentary and would not shy away from the prophet Mohammed or the religion of Islam.

So, they had a jihad of their own.

These men were not just your average nutcase shooters. At least one of them spent time in an al-Qaida training camp in Yemen. Both men were also identified terrorists and were on the U.S. no-fly list.

And what that should tell U.S. citizens and our leaders in Washington is that a terrorist can strike anywhere -- and steps must be taken to stop them.

We cannot prevent every terror attack. Lone wolves are hard to catch and to pinpoint before they execute their deadly rampages. And truth is, they do not care if they die, which makes them especially dangerous.

So if we are going to fight this war, we must stop pretending that we are negotiating with rational, sentient human beings who can be swayed by respect, logic and reason.

And hey, Washington, get the message: Negotiations, olive branches and honoring Ramadan will not work. This is not a college class on the theory of foreign policy and this is not a tough negotiating session with the French. These people hate us. They want to destroy us and they will do anything possible to kill as many of us as possible. And that is the bottom line.

So it is time to change strategy.

And here is the place to start.

We have to know who is coming in and out of this country -- and we have to start enforcing the rules for everyone -- even if it means a few lost votes.

We need to acknowledge how easy it is to get in and that not every immigrant who crosses our borders is an Hispanic looking for a better life. We need to make the government agencies charged with monitoring and deporting illegal immigrants more efficient and give them the tools to do their jobs fairly and properly.

We have to start relying on facts rather than political correctness. We have to acknowledge that radical Muslims fit a profile. And if there are signs, either by association or travel or commentary, we have to act, and quickly.

And we have to share what we learn with other nations and listen to what they have learned as well.

Sixteen people lost their lives in France this week. Not close to the 3,000 we lost on Sept. 11 or the 264 people who were injured as a result of the Boston bombing, but still a reason to pause and to think.

This absolutely could -- and very well might -- happen here again.

This is not a justification for persecution of those who practice Islam.

There are plenty of Muslims who condemn these acts and the people who perpetuate them. They bravely speak out against those who tarnish their religion -- much more so than some of the countries that continue to harbor and protect terrorists.

But it is time to get serious. And that might mean more security measures, tougher immigration laws and perhaps, not letting suspected Islamic terrorists out of confinement quite so quickly.

That is how you protect a country.

Published in Editorials on January 10, 2015 11:05 PM