With atrocity attacks back in the news, the United States and the world are reminded of the overwhelming need to increase security.
There is a second need: to bring as many people back to sanity as possible.
President Bush has moved toward a new effort to moderate the unbridled passions among many individuals and groups in the Middle East. With the president ready to issue a major policy statement, there may be room for renewed hope on the negotiations front. Certainly, if the president fashions a policy which plays to his own strengths in coalition-building, the United States and the world could be well-served.
In the security realm, the latest bombing in Israel is discouraging news, both for Israel and the world. Once again, someone has chosen to commit a barbaric crime — one that is aimed at innocent civilians with not even a pretense of attacking a military target. Indeed, early reports indicated that the suicide bomber’s victims, numbering at least 19, may have included students on their way to school.
For people of goodwill from all backgrounds and nations, such an offense is a crime against humanity.
For Americans, the bombing, almost inevitably, carries a reminder that security measures can never be fool-proof. There is, however, no place for letting concern about the enemy create a fearful paralysis. Just the opposite. We know we must be vigilant and focused. Whatever the strength of terrorists, America has considerable ability to prevent or reduce the impact of attacks.
Last week’s bombing of an American consulate in Pakistan tragically took the lives of at least a dozen innocent people outside the facility. The reaction among many Pakistanis was a reminder that decent people everywhere are horrified by terrorists’ sins. Activists in Karachi demonstrated with signs saying, "Islam is not a fundamentalist religion" and "Attack on U.S. consulate is against humanity."
As a Los Angeles Times article noted, there was a positive aspect to the event: the casualties were much fewer than they might have been. There were no serious injuries or deaths within the consulate. That’s likely because of heightened security measures.
Although a Pentagon report in the 1970s inspired efforts to improve security at embassies and consulates, the funding from Congress has not been consistent. While there is much more to be done, the measures may have been enough to prevent a larger catastrophe in Karachi.
We need to continue improving security for our personnel serving abroad. And we need to pursue security efforts at home for all Americans.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
