Enemies are a threat to our way of life

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, September 12, 2001

The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a deliberate act of war. The suicide attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were deliberate acts of terrorism, not war. The only comparison is that many lives were lost. We don’t even know for sure who committed this last act. All our speculation proves nothing.

However, it should be evident that these acts were carried out by an enemy with cold resolve. If they possess the desire to sacrifice themselves to destroy this country, then their cause must appear absolutely legitimate in their minds. Unfortunately, such an enemy may be extremely difficult or impossible to defeat. Their actions display a mentality with little concern about threats of reprisal. In their eyes each act of terrorism is a triumph. They have accomplished the task. Their war has been won.

An enemy who is willing to forfeit his life for his cause poses a far greater threat than the soldier who is merely willing to kill for his cause.

I believe that these enemies are a threat more to our way of life than to our freedom. They exist outside and within our borders; they are foreign and domestic. But, I still believe that the greater threat, to both freedom and to our way of life, exits domestically.

Lynnwood