Capitol Report
By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
In the aftermath of the savage Paris attacks, we find ourselves reeling from what seems like a world on the cusp of destruction.
The Islamic State (ISIS) and its first cousin al-Qaeda are literally competing with one another, in staking claim as the architect of global terrorism.
With that being the case, it provokes the question: What do these terrorist groups really want?
One could argue that the first, or most immediate, objective of these terrorist organizations is to instill fear: both in the targeted population and in the world, in general.
Terrorists take great pride when they can disrupt the flow of normal civilian life; when people are afraid to venture from their homes and are fearful of congregating in public.
Their second objective is to lure their adversaries into abandoning their core beliefs – as free and open nations.
French president, Francois Hollande, has taken the unprecedented step of closing his country’s borders in the wake of these attacks.
And, in similar suit, Balkan countries (Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia) have also opted to close their borders to fleeing refugees.
Unfortunately, this new anti-refugee sentiment has also taken hold here at home. A plan to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States has come under intense scrutiny since a Syrian passport was found near one of the assailants in the Paris terror attacks.
The discovery has heightened fears that Islamic State group terrorists could exploit refugee routes and resettlement programs to position themselves for additional attacks.
The House recently passed a bill prior to the Thanksgiving recess that would impose additional security measures on refugees from Syria and Iraq.
The measure would require the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to certify that each refugee to be resettled in the U.S. is no threat to national security.
House Republicans were joined by almost 50 Democrats in support of the bill, which Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said “increases the standards to keep those who want to do us harm out.”
However, perhaps the most important strategy in this misguided playbook for them, is goading us into making rash decisions (by overreacting).
The Islamic State is hell bent on trying to get this country to commit to another boots on the ground campaign in Iraq and Syria, where ISIS would have a considerable edge.
Moreover, massive air strikes that cause heavy collateral damage to civilians also benefits ISIS.
The terrorist group can then use these atrocities to radicalize and recruit new followers.
If history tells us anything, the bully (or in this instance terrorists) never win.
The war against terrorism requires a measured response.
Joining forces and sharing intelligence are the prudent steps to defeat this foe.
Let’s not play into their hands by over-reacting and turning away from our core beliefs.
Postscript: It’s estimated that 42 million Americans, and another 1.4 million via air, will be in transit for the holiday.
I wish you all safe travel and a Happy Thanksgiving.