The terrorist who brutally mowed down cyclists and pedestrians near the West Side Highway in Manhattan yelled Allah Akbar as he exited his murder weapon — his truck. Is there anything else we need to know?
Does it make a shred of difference whether he represented ISIS, al-Qaida, Hamas or some other Islamist terrorist group? Or whether he was a lone actor? Or whether he was radicalized in his native Uzbekistan or in his adopted country, the US? Or whether he was also mentally ill? Or whether he just broke up with his girlfriend? Or whether he told anyone in advance of his plans? Or whether his deed was hatched quickly or was long in the planning?
Whatever the specific answers to any of these questions may be, we have an underlying problem. A commonality to all terrorist acts committed by Islamic extremists. This problem is the radicalization of a significant segment of the Muslim community worldwide. This problem is the idealization of religion-based hatred, which is simul- taneously political and nihilist. Even in Indonesia — supposedly the most tolerant of Islamic nations — a political candidate may be reviled and jailed for suggesting that people should not automatically vote for Muslim candidates, just because they are Muslims.
Another disfigurement worth mentioning again: The method of terrorist slaughter — the moving vehicle — did not originate in Europe. Europe imported it from Palestinians, the first to use tractors, then automobiles, to kill people. Hijackings, bus bombings, suicide bombings, knifings and now car rammings all originated with Palestinian terrorists.
Kudos to the New York Police Dept. for its diligence in keeping New York free from terror for 16 years. Here is a case where we yearn for perfection — perfect safety.
Copyright © 2017 by the Intermountain Jewish News
