What is it that keeps the Islamists hitting the Russians harder and harder and harder again? Granted, between 1979 and 2001, the United States was hit several times by these types of terrorists, but after 9/11 and its response, they seem to be confining themselves to individual American targets and military targets in Iraq.
It certainly isn’t true that the Russians haven’t been more ruthless than we have been in striking back. In fact, if the latest drama and the Moscow theater incident are exemplary, they have been far more ruthless; willing to accept great loss of their own people in defusing (no pun intended) terrorist hostage dramas.
Of course, the Russians have an ugly history with Chechnya, along with a border which gives Islamists ready access to their Russian foes. Americans don’t have to contend with the monstrous hatred that the Islamic Chechens (justifiably) hold for Russia. However, 9/11 and Sudan have shown us that a group need not have persecuted Islamists to incur their hatred. Just existing without bowing down to Allah seems to be provocative.
But, in spite of the de facto open border to the south of us serving as an easy entry to the US, we’ve had no follow-up to the spectacular “success” of three years ago.
Why not?
The old Soviets had their eighties “adventure” in Afghanistan, but, now, so have we. Additionally, we’ve gone into Iraq twice in the last fifteen years. Indeed, there are many objective answers to the plaintive question: “Why do they hate us?”
With the latest terror trend of striking directly before an election, there are likely to be some plans for us in the making. However, “somehow” I don’t think that such plans will come to fruition.
Why not?
Tangent (sort of):
As a Christian I do believe in the power of prayer and this is indeed a Judeo-Christian nation for the most part, the constitutionally built-in secularity of the government notwithstanding. I do believe that, because of this, God protects us, to a certain extent.
However, the truism that “God helps those who help themselves,” applies here also. Contrary to popular belief, that particular saying isn’t in the Bible, but it is a paraphrase of St. James’ assertion that “faith without works is dead.” In spite of the actions of the ACLU and like-minded organizations, this country has faith and acts on it. Even many of the atheists and the agnostics of this country recognize the benefits that faith brings to all of us (the fact that they can exist in peace and friendship with most believers being one of them).
With all of the ironic screeching and moaning over the Patriot Act and the “crushing of dissent” here in the US notwithstanding, we have taken meaningful steps to protect ourselves from Islamist terror--with the gapping entrance existing to the south of us being the exception. We don’t just pray and then sit around waiting for God to intervene. We pray, ask for God’s wisdom and guidance, and then we act. Even though many an American atheist holds this admirably trait as well—minus the praying, of course--it’s definitely a Judeo-Christian concept; an American concept.
Coming back to the point, do Islamists hate the Russians more than they hate us? I say “yes,” but not (just) for the Soviet/Russian penchant for violently suppressing dissent of *any* group, including their own. To take the idea that God protects the US and turn it on its head, remember that Russia in its Soviet incarnation was a militantly atheist state. (Question to those more knowledgeable: what is the Russian Federation’s stance on religion at present?) That fact has to be more galling to Islamists, than the ascendance of those of us who *do* believe in God, just not in the Islamic manner.
May God continue to protect us; and spill some of that over onto the Russians as well, atheist or no. In spite of the old sins of the Soviets and the new ones of the Russian Federation, Russian civilians do not deserve what is happening to them.
The War continues.
(Thanks to Allah (no, not that one) and to The Command Post)
UPDATE:
A photo from the latest Russian terror incident. Check the t-shirt.
(Thanks to Instapundit)
