Should America Be Worried About Terrorism on Its Soil?
As the world watches, events in the Middle East continue to heat up after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel. The casualties continue to increase, with thousands of people losing their lives in the fighting. As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continues rooting out Hamas operatives, the region is rife with rocket and missile fire and ground troops battling it out in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Along with concerns about the well-being of innocent civilians in the region, some are beginning to worry about the possibility that the violence could spread to other countries. In fact, American politicians and officials have voiced concerns that the successful surprise attack might embolden other terrorists to engage in violence overseas.
Several Republican and Democratic politicians have highlighted the border crisis as a potential area that could endanger Americans even more than it already has as the situation in the Middle East intensifies.
Republican and Democratic members of Congress said more needs to be done to secure the U.S. southern border with Mexico after seeing how militants from a foreign terrorist organization broke across the Israel-Gaza Strip border and committed mass atrocities.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) has led House Republicans calls this year for the Biden administration to act on the burgeoning border problem that has crippled sanctuary cities and states far north of the border in New England and the Midwest.
"Evil actors, including terrorist groups, are constantly seeking to exploit weaknesses in our national security, and unfortunately, Secretary Mayorkas’s open border has given them a golden opportunity to do so," Green said. “The horrific and cowardly attacks on our indispensable ally Israel are a sober reminder that we cannot take our own homeland security for granted."
Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) said not only should President Joe Biden declare "unwavering support" for Israel but "finally" admit to and fix vulnerabilities at the U.S. border after more than 7 million people have been encountered attempting to enter the country without authorization under his tenure.
"Recognize the fact that his failure to secure our border is putting American citizens at risk as well," Pfluger, chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and Law Enforcement, said.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also chimed in, referencing America’s “own intelligence failures” and noting that “we have to look to our border” as a potential area where terrorists could enter the country. McCarthy also brought up the 150 people with ties to terrorism who were apprehended at the southern border. "Why are they coming to America, what do they have planned, and who are they communicating with?" he questioned.
The southern border has long been a source of concern, even before the current war in the Gaza Strip. Others have voiced concerns about terrorists exploiting the ongoing border crisis to sneak into the country to carry out acts of violence. With over seven million attempts to cross the border during President Joe Biden’s first term in office, one can see how this could be a problem worth worrying about.
This conversation comes as Hamas’ former chief Khaled Meshaal issued a disturbing call to arms, soliciting global support for the Palestinian cause. He exhorted listeners to express their anger on Friday and urged Muslims to “carry Jihad by their souls; to fight and be martyrs for Al-Aqsa.”
Yet, the question remains: Should Americans be worried about terrorist attacks on our soil?
It is understandable that many would wonder if the conflict in Israel could spill far enough to reach the United States or whether it will remain confined to the Middle East. It’s a complex issue, for sure.
It is important to consider the dynamics playing out in the conflict. The hostilities are rooted in historical and ideological disputes. While those who wish to wipe Israel off the map might also have animus toward Americans, right now, they are focused on striking Israeli soldiers and civilians. The fact that the IDF is currently decimating Hamas’ operatives might make it less likely that the clash will grow to threaten U.S. national security.
On the other hand, Meshaal’s call to action seems to signify that Hamas and other Islamic terrorist groups might seek to expand their horizons once more. Indeed, Moroccan TV Host Rachid Hammami, who translated Meshaal’s speech, predicted that this could happen in the Western world.
Even further, a recent rally in Dearborn, Michigan, which has a high Muslim population, might be cause for concern. Some of the speakers defended Hamas, claiming it was not a terrorist organization. Others threatened to “burn” Israel “until its demise.” With this type of rhetoric, it makes sense that at least one individual might feel compelled to kill Americans in the name of the cause.
It is not easy to tell how Israel’s war against Hamas will play out on the national stage. Will people take up the call to Jihad? Could it lead to another War on Terror? Or is this much ado about nothing? One thing is for sure: Now is the time to pay attention and remain vigilant.
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