September 3,
2008: It's often said that there have
been no Islamic terrorist attacks in the United States since September 11,
2001. Strictly speaking, that's not true. There have been several attacks, but
they have largely inept and ineffectual. None have involved bombs. The holy
warriors involved generally survive the action, and most plead guilty. This is
to get a lighter sentence, because they are usually confronted with many
witnesses, and some past connection with Islamic radicalism. These guys are not
the "A Team" of Islamic terrorism.
A recent
example is Mohammed Taheri Azar, a 25 year old Iranian. He's actually a
naturalized American citizen who grew up (since the age of two) and went to
college in North Carolina. In early 2006, three months after graduating with a
degree in psychology, he decided to use a rented SUV to, as he put it, avenge
the deaths of Moslems. He injured nine people, all of whom walked away after
getting first aid. Last month he was sentenced to 33 years in prison for
attempted first degree murder.
Immigrant
involvement in terrorism is a long U.S. tradition. Although Azar grew up in the
United States, he did so in an immigrant family (mother and sisters). He was a
shy kid, who never really connected with those around him. He may well have
turned into a terrorist if he had grown up back in Iran. But for over two
centuries, young immigrants in the United States have been drawn to violent
revolutionary movements back in the old country, and acted on it. The
punishment for such terrorist actions has always been severe. It's considered bad
manners to terrorize your new homeland.
