An Attack Foiled, A Reminder Given

By Terry Eastland

Last week's plot to use airplanes to commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale was foiled. Like 9/11, this scheme was the work of terrorists, and we can expect them to try again. The urgent question is whether we remain willing to carry the fight to the terrorists--and prevail.

On August 1, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a Los Angeles speech, rebuked those who believe that the West is somehow responsible for the emergence of the terrorists. As he pointed out, they are driven by "religious extremism," a radical version of Islam. And they have located themselves in virtually every major nation in the world. "They are prepared to strike," Blair said. And so they almost did.

Thanks to the Brits, with assistance from the Pakistanis, for saving the day. But we in this country will have learned nothing from this near-horrific episode if we fail to strengthen our resolve to win the war on terrorism.