Thank you Edith and Chag Same-ach,

We will celebrate this week Simchat Torah - the conclusion of the Torah reading for this year. The wonderful laws of our Torah, which still serve as the yardstick of morals for most of mankind, can not work, because many, unfortunately all too many, don't follow them. The commandments orders us to fight against evil with all our heart, however this is not done. Instead, we look for easy ways out. It is praiseworthy to be tolerant, have understanding for others and attempt to make compromises. But when the opponent is not tolerant, has no understanding for others and is not ready for compromises, solutions have to be found through the use of power. If not - evil will triumph and the good will suffer.

And with one blow of evil, we already suffer. We - the good people are heading to unemployment and depression and are scared. We are scared, that more of our innocent population will be killed without mercy and we will have to look for danger behind every bush. The population amongst which the terrorists flourish is not scared. They rely on the genteelnes of the USA, who would not - God forbid allow, any collateral damage. So, the noble people have to live in fear, while the people of terror live in safety.

The tragedy is, that this feeling of safety create also dangerous side-effects. They feel not only safe, not only strong, but convinced of their right, as it is perceived by their successful terrorist-leaders. In their eyes - might is right. There is no success- as success and we see it clearly in the ecstatic and fanatic eyes of the various demonstrators.

The showing of our great Armada is very impressive and makes us feel good. Yet, to eradicate terrorism, it is completely meaningless. The loose knit coalition with Arab or Islamic countries - is like a rock for a swimmer. The so called "moderate, "Arab countries take part in the coalition, because they are afraid to loose their own power from the pressure of the fanatic masses. On the other hand they will not permit a serious Western action, for the same reasons. In one single point they will unite, in pressuring the USA to sacrifice Israel. This would mean for the USA to loose their only real and substantial friend in the Near East. The USA will learn to live like the people in Israel - under constant fear. The great and respected friend of Israel will have to deal with terrorism with all it's might and will have to forget the good advice given to Israel: "not to over-react," - "Not to make a volatile situation even worse, not to shoot at innocent police buildings but to negotiate with the terrorists under pressure of fire.

We hear now many stories about the peaceful Islam religion. With all respect to all religions, all of them are subject to interpretations and even the religion with the noblest law, " to offer the second cheek," performed in history diferently. The Koran, Sura 5, verse 85 describes the inevitable enmity between Moslems and non-Moslems. "Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans. Sura 9,verse 5 adds: "Then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them. And size them, belaguer them and lie in wait for them, in every strategem of war. Then nations, however mighty, the Koran insist, must be fought until they embrace Islam."

Israel experienced this dictum since the beginning of statehood. We do not want to have in the USA the same experience. The method for eradicating Islamic terror, as it looks now, promises the same victories than we have in the war against drugs. Fanfares will announce the victorious seizure of another ton of drugs or another group of terrorists. Only pressure from it's own people will make the terrorists disappear. It is not easy but it is possible. But with our genteel fairness we will not be victorious. We need strength, determination and first and foremost to look out for our own safety - and without false mercy.

With Gods' help - this can work.

I am Barry Cohen

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