Alfonse D'Amato

Take off the blindfold! ISIS is a real threat.

Posted

Two things have become abundantly clear since the heinous attack by Islamic State jihadists in Paris on Nov. 13. First, we must stop treating ISIS with kid gloves and immediately join our allies to devise a strategy to stop this collection of terrorists. Second, we must do everything we can to ensure that the Syrian refugees entering the U.S. do not pose an unwarranted threat.

The world reacted in horror to ISIS jihadists’ well-coordinated attacks on Paris, which killed 130 innocent people and injured hundreds more. This was the deadliest attack on French soil since World War II.

France’s president, Francois Hollande, called it an “act of war” and vowed to attack the Islamic State group without mercy. The next day, his country began launching air strikes aimed at pounding ISIS into submission. In addition, French authorities initiated raids around the city as well as in Brussels, where the attackers were believed to be living. During those raids, the mastermind of the attack, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed.

Russia joined France in the bombing onslaught after President Vladimir Putin confirmed that it was ISIS that took down a Russian jetliner, killing 224 people. Russia used bombers, hitting strategic ISIS strongholds, training centers and the trucks used to transport stolen oil to buyers, which is the Islamic State’s main income.

It’s clear how the French and Russian presidents respond to acts of terrorism. What about you, President Obama?

Last January, the president claimed that ISIS was “junior varsity.” Just hours before the attack in France, he stated that ISIS was “not gaining strength.” Well, Mr. President, now they’re in the big leagues, and it happened on your watch.

Even in the wake of the vicious attacks in Paris, Obama has not vowed to step up military action against ISIS, instead claiming that the U.S. will wait and see “whether, in fact, Russia does end up devoting attention to targets that are ISIS targets, and if it does so, then that’s something we welcome.”

In the meantime, ISIS has released videos threatening Washington, D.C., and New York City. Mr. President, it’s time to stand tall with other world leaders and destroy ISIS. It’s not time to be politically correct.

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