RALEIGH – Now that federal authorities have arrested seven suspects in a Triangle-based gang of Islamist terrorists and are on the hunt for the eighth, let’s review the facts.
First, there appears to be substantial evidence that there are devotees of Islamism – a totalitarian political ideology derived from but not equivalent to Islamic fundamentalism – right here in North Carolina. From such dangerous ideas can come dangerous actions. In a free society, of course, we are all free to embrace or reject whatever ideas we wish. Some of us have been rejecting and exposing the spread of Islamism for years now, even as critics sometimes charged us with exaggerating the threat.
No, we didn’t.
Second, it is entirely proper to warn North Carolinians not to jump to conclusions about the criminal guilt of any of the suspects. We’re still a long way from a trial. It may turn out that some of the suspects were more aware of and involved in planning for possible terrorist attacks than the others. Contradictory evidence may come to light.
However, it is not at all proper to downplay the seriousness of the charges or make unsubstantiated allegations of bias on the part of law enforcement or prosecutors. By now, it has become clear that such tactics are an integral part of the trained terrorist’s modus operandi. We don’t have to play along. By all means, let’s just let the justice system do its work. The guilt or innocence of particular defendants is a separate matter from exposing the danger of Islamist states, adherents, and ideas.
Third, Islamism is not Islam. The vast majority of the practitioners of the world’s second-largest faith are not fascists, much less terrorists. But some are. And they are inspired, aided, and abetted by Islamist tyrants such as the Iranian mullahs, the leaders of Hezbollah, the thugs of Hamas, and key Saudis. It shouldn’t be necessary to repeat the distinctions among the world religion of Islam, the minority sects of Islamic fundamentalism, and the fascist ideology of Islamism every time there’s a terrorist plot uncovered or terrorist attack reported. Unfortunately, it continues to be necessary.
Finally, winding down the successful U.S. military intervention in Iraq and redeploying troops to continue battling the terrorists and their allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan are necessary but insufficient responses to the continued threat to American lives and ideals from Islamism. There remains a serious risk that Iran will complete its nuclear program and make weapons available to like-minded terrorists, for example. Other countries in the region may feel compelled to build their own weapons as a deterrent, assuming that Israel doesn’t launch a preemptive strike – which could itself create massive instability in the Middle East, even if military strikes prove necessary to protect Israel from annihilation.
We need to understand that these are not isolated events with consequences only for those living thousands of miles away. There are Islamist kooks right here in North Carolina who see the world very differently from us, who detest American freedom, resent our power, and worship a god of their own fevered imaginations who promises them paradise if they die killing infidels.
Vigilance against such domestic threats is entirely consistent with the principles of a free society. Indeed, it is essential if freedom is to endure and spread.
Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation