We’re often told these days by Muslim apologists that the terrorist attacks we have endured at home and abroad throughout the years have in some way been caused by our own actions. We’re told by Muslim clerics that the biggest reason for their hatred of the United States is our intervention in the affairs of the Middle East. This line is then dutifully picked up by the American media, the political left and in some cases even repeated by “conservatives”. Though I like many of the things he has to say, presidential candidate Ron Paul makes me nervous when he talks about his “live and let live” view of the world. It would be nice to think that we could just simply ignore the terrorists, leave them to their own little part of the world and think they are just going to leave us alone. It would also be nice to believe in a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, “free” health care and the Tooth Fairy.
Any naive attempt to convince them that we mean them no harm will not make for a more kind and gentle Middle East. What it will do is convince them that we are retreating under pressure and hiding behind the veil of isolationism.
If, as Ron Paul and others suggest, the Muslim extremists target the United States because of our “interference” in the Middle East, then why do the terrorist strike in places such as The Philippines’? I’ve spent a little time in the sands of Saudi Arabia and have friends and family members who have spent even more time in Iraq and Afghanistan, and none of us have ever seen a Filipino soldier in that part of the world. I could be wrong, but I don’t think the Philippines have been an outspoken supporter of Israel either, which is another excuse we often hear as to why the Muslims want to blow us up. Yet for some seemingly inexplicable reason, the Philippines are a major target of Muslim extremists who want to remake the entire world in their image.
On Valentine’s Day 2005, militants linked to Al-Qaeda struck the Philippines’ Makati financial district with a series of bombings that killed seven people and wounded another 151. The Investigation into one of the bombings showed the suspects got onto a bus with the bomb in a backpack, leaving it behind when they left and then detonated the bomb with a cell phone.
This is not an isolated incident for the Philippine people. Since January 2000 radical Islamist groups have carried out over 40 major bombings against civilians and civilian property, yet no one is accusing the Philippine government of sticking its nose in the affairs of the Middle East. Nor is it a Muslim nation that clerics are attempting to “keep in line”. According to the 2010 Census, Makati City includes a population of just over a half million people, 88.9% of which identified their religious affiliation as Roman Catholic. The other 11.1% is divided among Protestants, Hindu, Buddhist, Jews, and Muslims. Clearly, Islam is the minority in the Philippines, yet they seem to be demanding the most attention. Evidently Islam does not preach “live and let live”.
The reality of who the enemy is demands that we recognize that it is not our involvement in the affairs of the Middle East that invites Muslim aggression. It is the simple fact that we don’t believe as they do, and don’t live our lives according to their religion that invites Islamic extremism. No amount of capitulation to demands that we remove all U.S. forces from Muslim lands and end our support of Israel will ever change that.
Naturally, Americans are tired of a “War on Terror” that never seems to have an end. We’ve now been in Afghanistan for 10 years and I don’t claim to have the solution for a way to end our involvement in that country. What I do know is that we cannot simply pick up our toys, go home and hope the bad guys don’t follow us back to our front door.
As I watch the republican presidential candidates, I want to make sure that I’ll be voting for someone with a clear idea of the threat we face. I like Ron Paul’s domestic agenda, but the last thing I want to hear is that it’s our fault the terrorists want to kill us. If I want to hear that, I can turn on MSNBC. We’re either going to fight these people “over there”, or we’re going to fight them right here on main street USA. Contrary to what some people say, it’s a fight that we didn’t start, but it’s one we must finish.
Duane S White .com 
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