Horror revisits America

The terrorist attack in San Bernardino last year brought the horror back to America. Terrorism is again the thing most feared by Americans. On Sunday, Americans woke up to one of the most heinous massacres in U.S. history, at a gay nightclub in Orlando, the worst shooting attack the country has ever known. It was evident to everyone that the incident met the criteria for a terrorist attack, whether domestic or foreign. Terror is terror is terror. As the hours passed the picture became clearer: Another Islamist terrorist attack in Barack Obama's America -- the same America that decided to wipe the term "Islamist terrorism" from its lexicon. Alas, the terrorists are doing Obama's job for him. How embarrassing.

The FBI very quickly and conspicuously raised the possibility that the incident was a jihadist attack, which, of course, changes everything. What information did the FBI have at such an early stage to allow it to link the attack to global jihad? A reminder: In San Bernardino the exact opposite happened, when it took America time to admit the shooting was an Islamist attack.

The commander in chief would prefer anything else. The American people waited for hours to learn the San Bernardino attackers' identities. What made the difference this time from the perspective of the investigators was the assailant's name: Omar Mateen, an American of Afghani descent. Indeed, political correctness forbids making such a connection. But political correctness, in an era in which the world is fighting terrorism, is pass .

Between Syria and Orlando

The 29-year-old Mateen lived in America. He held an American passport and worked as a security guard for a company that provides services to the federal government, but on judgment day he was first and foremost a jihadist, a murderer, terrorist; and only then, if at all -- an American. Something has gone wrong with the American dream. In America today there are those (even if they are in the minority) who dream the jihadist dream. What is certain is that Mateen was not proud to be an American.

Not long ago, the Al-Jazeera news network published a survey revealing that 80% of the Arab world is enthusiastic about Islamic State ideology. Many doubted the survey's credibility, because Muslims are the number one victims of Islamic State. But even if the figure is just 0.8% (we can only wish) instead of 80%, it is still too much. We need to keep in mind that Islamic State is pure hatred. Hatred of women, Jews, Christians, infidels, homosexuals -- the list goes on.

The world was stunned by Sunday's horrific attack, which this time targeted the gay community. But is anyone upset over homosexuals being brutally executed on a daily basis by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria? When they are thrown off of buildings, or burned alive? Anyone who is not appalled by these atrocities in Syria and Iraq gets to witness these executions in Florida, in Orlando, in Walt Disney's town. Who would have thought-

Terror doesn't need a visa

Specifically, the liberals so opposed to war must realize that for the jihadists everyone -- conservatives and liberals alike -- are in the same boat. One after the other on Sunday, American news stations at the scene interviewed the mayor, sheriff, hospital representatives and elected local officials. Even an imam was called to the podium to deliver a message. He urged the public to refrain from sensationalist reactions. He said he was grateful that there was only one attacker, and asked that his act not be tied to religion.

And herein lays the problem. The role of moderate Islam must be to denounce such attacks, instead of searching for excuses.

President Obama needs to understand that ignoring the threat posed by Islamic State was always going to be impossible. It should have never been denied. Today, the spirit of Islamic State is present all around us. It does not need a visa to enter the U.S. Ideology does not need a passport. And in America and Europe, there are more than enough clients who subscribe to this ideology.

In Paris yesterday, in America today, a lone wolf attacker or a terrorist cell can turn a city into a war zone. It is truly frightening. We cannot say the writing was not on the wall. We also cannot say this is not terrorism. Yet again on Sunday, Obama admitted to the nation that the incident was terrorism and spoke of "hate" -- but made no mention of radical Islam.

For Obama, those two words together do not exist in his lexicon. A state of emergency was declared in Orange County, Florida, on Sunday. In November a state of emergency was declared in Paris. This is a state of affairs that no Western citizen should accept.

The investigation will be lengthy, just like the war on terror. This is a toilsome war that could last decades. Who knows this better than Israelis? Just a few days ago, in the middle of a popular city market in Tel Aviv, four Israelis were murdered. Yesterday it was 50 Americans. That's 54 people who wanted to go out and live life, not have their lives cut short. The loathsome terrorist swore allegiance to Islamic State before committing the massacre. The America that we love has sworn allegiance to liberty and life. And for this reason only it will emerge victorious.

The election campaign is picking up steam and we can assume that Hillary Clinton -- who was part of the government that refused to recognize Islamist terror and is carrying the weight of the Benghazi affair -- will have to provide some answers. The American citizen needs to know that the next president will have to fight terror. The planet is heating up, but not for the reasons Obama thinks. We must wish his successor all possible success.

In America there were many who stood by our side following the attack at Sarona Market. Today we stand by their side.