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especially, are themselves responsible for this governmentally
condoned terrorism.
In its most recurring form, modern terrorism has manifested itself in
the confrontation between the Arabs and the Israelis. . . Decades ago,
Israel warned the world, particularly the Western nations, that
internationally tolerated terrorism is a political virus that knows no
boundaries. If left unchecked it would spread to other causes,
continents, and countries.
So long as they thought they were immune from the terrorist virus,
aloof bystanders could adopt this kind of logic and base their actions
and inactions on it. But there are no aloof bystanders. The Tehran
terrorists have proven that once and for all. If the countries of the
West do not band together against terrorism, whatever the short-term
economic sacrifices, their long-term future as truly sovereign states is
quite problematical.
Those who hate America like to discuss war within the framework of
American imperialism and colonialism. Yes, the United States took
land from the native peoples of North America. But so, too, did the
French, British, and Canadians. So did the Spaniards and Portuguese
in Latin America. So did the Australians and New Zealanders in the
South Seas. So did the Russians, Chinese, and Japanese in Asia and
Europe. Did the Scots, Welsh, and Catholics of Northern Island want
to be a part of Great Britain? Do the Tibetans want to be part of
Communist China?
Yes, the United States conquered the Philippines and Puerto Rico in
the 1898 Spanish-American War and remained in de facto control of
Cuba until 1934. But this country gave the Filipinos independence in
1946, and it has promised statehood or independence to the Puerto
Ricans whenever they want to have it.
Yes, President Theodore Roosevelt, influenced by U.S. Admiral
Alfred Thayer Mahan’s sea-power theories, took advantage of a

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