I should note my essay on the coming war written within days of the attack (that we've fought for 12 years even as the current president votes "present" on the war) that I think still offers a good template for the fight.
I'll note that my judgment that Moslems in America would not be a fifth column has proven to be true even after a dozen years of war against jihadi fanatics that our enemies try to portray as a war on Islam itself. Strategypage writes:
Opinion surveys of Moslem migrants in the United States shows that this community is more satisfied with their experience in America than non-Moslems migrants. This was reinforced when, after September 11, 2001, American leaders openly praised the loyalty of American Moslems. This was not forgotten, even though there were many American Moslems who cheered on the Islamic terrorists and some even sought to join them. But these numbers were small and even al Qaeda warned its operatives to be careful around American Moslems, because many of them were more loyal to America that Islamic radicalism and would inform the police of any suspicious behavior.
And despite constant complaints that we're one terror attack from putting Moslems in camps here, we've treated our Moslem population well and without undo scrutiny. I think we need to be vigilant to be careful on this score, but we've done amazingly well.
The only major things I'd add to my essay is our need to help Moslem societies change and modernize themselves so young Moslem men aren't such a recruiting pool for jihadis. In my own defense, I was thinking of the military response necessary and not more broadly.
I'd also have emphasized rather than hinted what I began to blog about in later years: that defense of our civil liberties require us to win the war rather than let it drag on for too long. As enemies attack, we naturally ratchet up our defenses that infringe on our liberties more and more. Win and war-time measures have no place in our society. Institutionalize the fight as long-term law enforcement and loss of freedom becomes the new normal.
Our enemies keep voting to wage war on us. Let's vote "victory."
