How many terror attacks before U.S. government confronts Islamist networks at home

OPINION:

By unleashing a war on Iran with the objective of preventing the ayatollahs from building a nuclear weapon and delivering freedom and prosperity to the Iranian people (ideally by replacing the fanatics with leaders more friendly to Israel and the West), President Trump has acted as no other president has.

With two more terrorist attacks last week — one at Old Dominion University in Virginia and the other at a synagogue and Jewish school in Dearborn, Michigan — is it time to talk of terrorists crossing a red line in this country?

How many more attacks must we endure before more is done to lessen the threat?

The Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis have taken a bold and useful step in banning Shariah in the state and giving Mr. DeSantis the authority to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.

Numerous Muslim organizations have been established within U.S. borders, especially after 9/11. These groups advocate policies counter to U.S. interests. Some defend attacks on Israel and support terrorists and Iran.

These include the Muslim Brotherhood, designated by Texas and now Florida as a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. officials and reports have accused the group of acting as a “militant Islamist organization” that aims to undermine U.S. national security and support organizations such as Hamas.

Another active Muslim organization is the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Designated as a “foreign terrorist organization” by Texas and Florida late last year because of alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation trial. CAIR denies these links and has sued to contest these designations.

Others include:

• American Muslims for Palestine: Identified in reports as an Islamist organization promoting pro-Hamas advocacy and Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions against Israel, and acting as part of a “network” of threat actors.
• Islamic Society of North America: Described in studies as an Islamist organization that operates as a sister organization to CAIR and shares board members, with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood’s U.S. network.
• Muslim American Society: Described in reports as an Islamist organization with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, focusing on “direct action” and anti-Israel advocacy.
• Students for Justice in Palestine: Identified in reports as an Islamist organization focused on campus activism, pro-Hamas advocacy and BDS promotion.
• The Muslim Students Association: Described in reports as focused on campus activism and affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood’s network.
• Revolution Muslim: Described by the West Point Counterterrorism Center as a radical group linked to terrorism cases. It appeared in 2010 to act as a recruiter for foreign militant groups.

The U.S. government has, in past cases such as that of the Holy Land Foundation, shut down charities, including Benevolence International Foundation and Global Relief Foundation, accusing them of directing funds toward terrorism.

Federal investigations have identified domestic Islamic extremist groups in prisons, such as Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh, which the investigators say pose a threat.

If further attacks continue on U.S. soil, at a minimum, these groups should be closed and disbanded. Although some liberal judges might not allow it, voters in November could do something about it by electing people who put America ahead of its enemies, foreign and especially domestic.

• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).