14 December 2015

Notes from Norm: It Makes a Difference, Hillary

http://www.mnactionnetwork.org/notes-from-norm-it-makes-a-difference/

 

“…Hillary Clinton's campaign said the former secretary of State will deliver a major counterterrorism address in Minnesota next week — a state known as one of the nation's biggest hotbeds of domestic terrorism recruitment.”

– Minneapolis Star Tribune

In reading the paragraph above one should be struck by one or both of the points being advanced by the reporter.

The first, is that the individual most responsible for the Benghazi disaster which resulted in the loss of life of 4 Americans, is coming to Minnesota for a campaign fundraiser and make a “major” counterterrorism address in Minnesota.

The second, is that Minnesota, long known for its lakes, hockey and Norwegians is now “….known as one of the nation’s biggest hotbeds of domestic terrorism recruitment.”

Sadly, both points are correct, and both underscore the growing disaster of the Obama/Clinton approach to foreign policy and their abject failure in aggressively conducting America’s global war on terror.

It was the Clinton State Department that first attempted to convince Americans that the attack on an American Ambassador in Libya was the result of locals being angry because of an offensive video.

When it became obvious that nobody believed their cover story, Obama/Clinton had to admit that it was the worst terrorist attack on American interests since 9/11 and resulted in the death of American Ambassador Chris Stevens and three American heroes trying to rescue him.

When terrorists struck in San Bernardino the immediate Obama/Clinton response was to call for greater gun control – despite the fact that California has the strictest gun control laws in the nation – and it was an act of terror by Muslims who had become radicalized in a way to pervert the meaning of their religion by taking the lives of 14 innocent Americans.

Days later – while Americans feared the worst – the President finally got around to addressing the nation about the terrorist attack and blandly assured us he was doing his best.

Americans have known for a great while that the President’s best is not good enough when it comes winning the global war on terror.

Now, the person most responsible for creating the platform of his response to the global war on terror is coming to Minnesota – a “…state known as one of the nation’s biggest hotbeds of terrorism recruitment.”  to share her vision of how we must combat the growing threat of homegrown radicalized Islam.

The news that the 10th Minnesotan has been arrested and charged with conspiring to radicalize young Minnesota men and women to join ISIS is both startling and troubling.

U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, who is running as fast as he and his office can run to keep up with the growing threat of local radicalization of young men and women to join the ranks of ISIS, is to be commended for his efforts.

But, at the end of the day, it is the leadership at the top of the U.S. government that puts forward the vision and the strategy for how to successfully confront this unprecedented threat to America’s homeland.

When our President, and his former Secretary of State, have proven themselves unserious about confronting the terror threat abroad – and unwilling to acknowledge the terror threat at home – the odds of success by dedicated public servants like U.S. Attorney Luger become longer and longer.

There’s no dispute that the vile rhetoric coming from Donald Trump puts further distance between young American Muslims and the political dialogue that is taking place in our country.

But, Donald Trump is one man – and does not represent the foreign or domestic policy in America. 

What he says doesn’t justify acts of violence against Americans by terrorists such as those that killed in California – nor does it justify acts of violence against Muslims in America because of his ugly words.

The battle to win the global – and domestic – war on terror has to begin by reasserting American values, ideals, principles and beliefs – not apologizing for our defense of them around the world or at home.

That must begin with the President – this President and the next one and every President after that.

Donald Trump is a distraction from the real problems facing our failing efforts to push back against radicalization of American youth by dark and evil forces perverting the words of Islam.

President Obama and Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump, created those policies –promoted them—defended them, justified them and still do.

Muslim leaders must become more visible and more firm in not just denouncing acts of violence done in the name of Islam, but must reassert the meaning and beliefs behind their religion.

Christian leaders must become more visible and more firm in not just denouncing acts of violence done in the name of Christianity, but must reassert the meaning and beliefs behind their religion.

Political leaders, on both sides of the aisle, have to resist the urge to blame America and our values for being at the root of the discontent of those who have come to America to start a new life.

Disaffection for America does not justify attacks against America. 

Confronted by her disastrous response to the terrorist attacks in Libya Secretary Clinton angrily asked,

“Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night and decided they’d go kill some Americans…What difference – at this point, what difference does it make?”

Two years after making those comments, with the most significant terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11 still fresh in our minds, the difference is now obvious, as is the threat to America.

The difference is that guys out for a walk in Libya deciding they want to kill Americans were terrorists. 

Terrorists in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere killing Americans are our foreign enemies.

The difference is that terrorists, are now within America, plotting against our nation to destroy us and our way of life – most recently executing a mission that killed 14 innocent American – are our domestic enemies.

Secretary Clinton, along with President Obama, have shown time and time again they are unable, or unwilling, to know what difference it makes.