Jedediah Bila

I would like to first and foremost salute Jasper Schuringa, the passenger who took matters into his own hands and thwarted the December 25, 2009 attempted terrorist attack on Northwest Airlines Flight 253.

According to CNN, Schuringa “…jumped over the passenger next to him and lunged over Abdulmutallab’s seat.” He quickly retrieved a burning object that rested between Abdulmutallab’s legs, extinguished it with his hands, pulled him to the front of the plane, stripped his clothes to assure the absence of other explosives, and handcuffed him with the assistance of a crew member.

The fact that this attack was unsuccessful does not make it any less worthy of our focus. Many American citizens and leaders have the unfortunate habit of becoming complacent until tragedy strikes, an extremely dangerous approach that leaves America and its citizens vulnerable. The time to protect our country is before, not after.

In this post-9/11 world, it is astonishing to me that some still just don’t get it. Have they not done the research on the numerous terrorist attacks prevented since 2005 alone, including but not limited to plans to blow up Chicago’s Sears Tower, the New York City subways, and Kennedy Airport, as well as to attack Fort Dix and destroy the Brooklyn Bridge? Or have they been listening to the mainstream media’s deafeningly silent or watered down coverage of those events? After all, who has time to report the news when there are Bush jokes to crack and ceaseless efforts to crucify Dick Cheney for his unapologetic insistence on keeping America safe, right?

We live in a complex world, and the fact that terrorists exist who would like to destroy this country and everything it stands for is a reality that simply can’t be ignored. Keep this Christmas 2009 foiled terrorist attack in mind when you consider our President and Eric Holder’s decision to try 9/11 masterminds in the heart of New York City. Remember it the next time you hear a representative of the Obama administration—or the President himself—use the term “man-made disaster” instead of terrorism.

It’s your country. It’s your family.

Speak. Your. Minds.

Cross-published at http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-27232-Manhattan-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m12d26-Christmas-2009-Attempted-Terrorist-Attack–Looking-Ahead