Five years later, and still safe

Five years later and no further attacks on U.S. soil. Who would have ever dreamed that, following the horrors inflicted on this nation on Sept. 11, 2001, we would experience five terror-free years?

Say what we will and complain all we want, our government has, for half a decade, thwarted and prevented the jihadists who spew hatred and threatenings with every breath from harming American citizens inside their own country. That’s quite a feat in my book.

During the turmoil in Northern Ireland, five years of terror-free existence would have been considered a great blessing. In Israel, five terror-free years would be something akin to a miracle.

I do not believe for one moment that the jihadists have been negligent in their plans to murder Americans wherever they may be found.

I believe that the threats published by the leaders of that murderous band of fanatics are real.

I believe that, if they could, they would slit, in public view for all the world to see, the throats of every man, woman, and child in this nation.

I believe that the jihadists are a darker and graver threat to this nation and to the peace of the world than Communism, socialism or fascism ever sought to be.

I do not believe that the jihadists can be reasoned with, negotiated with, appeased, persuaded, or satisfied. I believe that they are in this fight until the last man is left standing.

I do not believe that we are the cause of their discontent, and I do not believe that they believe that we are determined or powerful enough to stop them. They believe that they can and will win. They will destroy people of their own nation, their own family, and their own faith if it means they can strike us.

So, I stand amazed that we have experienced not one single terrorist attack on our soil in five years. For that, I must express my appreciation to the FBI, the CIA, the NSA, law enforcement, the military, thousands of people whose identities will forever remain unknown and, yes, I must express appreciation to the President of the United States and to those who carry out the policies that have kept us secure for five years.

I have strong disagreements with President Bush in several areas, but in the area of homeland security, the proof is — thus far — in the pudding.

With the exception of boarding airlines, I really don’t think about getting killed by a terrorist, although I’m certain they have plans I don’t know about. Unlike a citizen of Israel, I can go to the grocery store, the movies, a football game, or a restaurant and not consciously fear for my life. Children can go to elementary school and not fear that someone will blow it up before recess.

If someone is going to kill me, it is far more likely to done at the hands of an American criminal than at the hands of a terrorist. It could happen, of course, but I don’t think about it every day.

Somewhere out there, in the dark murky waters of the intelligence community, are men and women spending their entire lives to keep terrorism at bay. There are people who are, at the risk of their own lives, working undercover, infiltrating terror cells, listening to phone conversations, decoding messages, and doing a hundred other tasks that I can only imagine. They are the “gatekeepers” who keep the monsters away.

We gripe and we carp and we complain about our leaders and others in government but, just once, I’d love for people to say a few “thank yous” for a job well done.

We may be attacked tomorrow on a scale that will make 9/11 look paltry but, for now, we are safe and have been safe for over five years. I thank God for that.

I also thank those who work tirelessly on our behalf and I thank President George W. Bush as well. There are issues of contention that will hold until another day but, on this issue of five terror-free years on American soil, “Thank you, Mr. President, for a job well done! And, please — for the sake of our children and grandchildren and those yet to be born —don’t let us down.”