What are our leaders really thinking?

Something is terribly wrong. On Saturday night, a terrorist tried to detonate a car bomb in Times Square. Times Square happens to be the heart of New York City. New York City happens to be the Islamic terrorists’ favorite target. Some might remember that Islamic terrorists tried to blow up the World Trade center in 1993 and were successful in 2001. It seems like we might have to remind those in charge in Washington and even the mayor of New York City.

Shortly after the discovery of the bomb, Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security opined that it was “likely a one-off”. Chuck Schumer, the New York Senator quickly concluded “The odds are quite high that this was a lone wolf.” The mayor of New York concluded it was a lunatic American. He stated to Katie Couric that it was “home-grown, maybe a mentally deranged person or somebody with a political agenda that doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything.” All of these descriptions seem to infer a rogue American (think Tea Partier or tea party sympathizer) rather than the more logical choice, an Islamic terrorist.

These are professional politicians. They speak in political nuance. Of course they did not “blame” the tea partiers but the innuendo was clear. This was the work of a Tea Partier. Do these politicians really hate Tea Partiers that much? What does it mean when their first instinct is to suspect fellow Americans rather than the stated sworn enemies of the United States? The very enemies we have been at war with for a decade and who have repeatedly targeted New York City.

In the heat of the moment, instinctual or gut reactions are critical. In the absence of all of the facts they guide which way a leader going to act. Do these leaders really distrust their fellow Americans, especially the tea partiers, so much they immediately assume they are the enemy? Don’t answer that. I am afraid it was a rhetorical question.

Letter to the editor at the LDN