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For over a decade, societies around the globe have been shaped by events ranging from catastrophic natural disasters to acts of unspeakable violence and terrorism. From 911 and the rise of Al Qaeda to the 2004 tsunami, ISIL, attacks on innocent civilians in Paris and Berlin, the assassination of the Charlie Hebdo journalists, the attack on Canadian military personnel and our own Houses of Parliament, and most recently the despicable bombing in Manchester; we are living in an age of constant tension, guerrilla violence, danger and the radicalization of the vulnerable.
The Islamic State has taken responsibility for the recent suicide attack in Manchester. Many believe this is the armed conflicts of the Middle East penetrating the countries of Europe. Islamic State terrorists are bent on sewing their terror in countries like England, France and Germany where there seem to be no end of both disaffected Muslim immigrant refugee populations or home grown, radicalized citizens to do their evil bidding. This ongoing campaign against fee western nations is based on a form of Islam that is so distorted and torqued from its own true meaning to one of justifying and encouraging violence in its name, that peaceful, truly observant Muslims are suffering acts of discrimination, and western, predominately Christian nations are beginning to question the true nature of Islam.
During a recent meeting with President Trump at the White House, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was said to have remarked to Trump, “I’ve had a deep appreciation and admiration of your unique personality, especially as you are standing very strong in the counter-terrorism field, to counter this satanic ideology that is claiming innocent lives, that is bringing devastation to communities and nations, and that is terrorizing innocent people.”
Yet, as the Manchester attack and many before it in the west have proven, Islamist terrorists are waging their guerrilla war from the shadows, and while their attacks are sometimes discovered and thwarted, for the most part, preventing attacks is proving to be very difficult. This is contributing significantly to heightened anxiety in European cities that are experiencing repeated attacks, and living in a time of highest terror alert.
Now, more than ever, every country must find ways to eliminate barriers to the communication of intelligence information, and band together effectively to combat the growing terrorist challenges faced by the west, while finding a way to confront and effectively manage home grown radicalization.
My final point will be a very controversial one, but I feel I am giving voice to a belief held quietly but broadly by very many people who, in this ever more politically correct country of ours, feel constrained from saying it themselves: we will never effectively deal with home grown, radicalized terrorists until the Muslim community, with whom, the majority of the time, these terrorists live and worship, adopt a firm, united approach of proactive action and consistently report individuals who’s behavior shows signs of radicalization.
Take Manchester bomber Salman Abedi as an example. While reports are contradictory (some say his mother claims she reported him to authorities as having been radicalized, while his father openly maintains he is innocent), it was recently reported that members of his local community were aware of his radicalization, including terror training abroad over the past 12 months. The time to report these shocking facts is not after he has caused the horrible bombing deaths of 22 and the maiming of 59 others, all mostly young girls leaving a pop concert.
The fight against terror is everyone’s fight. Those who come here seeking a better life must also accept the duty to protect the very values and opportunities that made it possible for them to come here in the first place; peace, order, good government, the rights guaranteed all in our Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They are all under attack, and we must all defend them or suffer the consequences.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images