OPINION:
Last summer I wrote several letters urging U.S. forces to take out the Islamic State before the terrorist group strikes America. I argued that the Islamic State might have its sights set on Capitol Hill or Hollywood. Given the terrorists’ twisted logic, they believe these two iconic landmarks are the symbols of American hedonism and must be destroyed.
One of my friends asked me why I kept writing about them. “You’re pushing everyone’s buttons,” she said. “Why are you deliberately scaring us?” The answer was simple then, as it is now. The Islamic State recently put out a hit list of 100 U.S. servicemen and -women it wants its followers to assassinate (“Islamic State posts kill list with purported addresses of U.S. military personnel,” Web, March 21). The terrorists not only published pictures and names of these military personnel, they identified their locations, too. Just in case you think the Islamic State will be on the lookout for these brave troops in the Middle East, guess again. The terrorists published these troops’ home addresses on the mainland.
The war on terror is being fought all over the world. The Islamic State has proven it can capture territory in Iraq and Syria just as easily as it can influence one or two fanatics to attack innocents virtually anywhere. My written warnings aside, it’s only a matter of time before some lone wolf strikes America. When that happens, I hope the United States will be willing to counterattack on a massive scale.
DENNY FREIDENRICH
Laguna Beach, Calif.
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