A massive blow to American spirit
Our Jewish hearts bled with the American people on Sunday, who suffered a massive blow at the hands of Islamic terrorism, the worst since 9/11.
Despite the fact the Islamic State group has no qualms targeting innocent civilians, once the blood is cleaned from the floor of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, some bleeding hearts will surely step forward, to somehow justify the horrific acts of the gunman, Omar Mateen, who grew up to be an ungrateful Muslim trying to undercut his parents' adoptive country.
In the first hours after the shooting, U.S. media was trying to determine whether this was a "hate crime" against the LGBT community, or "Islamic terrorism." This question was answered once it was revealed that moment prior to the attack Mateen had pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a 911 call.
He may have also hated the LGBT community, which naturally poses no threat to the U.S., but in Mateen's archaic worldview could be perceived as the weakest link in American society. At the end of the day, it seems his motives were fueled by both.
The media also hashed the question of why Matteen, who was questioned by the FBI in the past, was not stopped prior to carrying out his nefarious act. The answer, of course, is a given: Had he been arrested authorities would have been lambasted for apprehending him without clear-cut proof.
The question, I believe, should be why authorities failed to send in the SWAT team sooner. Why did it take three hours? That is a professional failure. One also has to wonder why those inside the club did nothing. Something has faded, dissolved and has been lost in the American spirit if 300 adults, even barehanded, cannot overpower a lone gunman.
Israel's greatest ally is grieving. One can only hope that now that there is a clear link between Islamic State and this massacre that U.S. President Barack Obama will order an all out war on the group.
Still, this too will boil down to politics.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will tout the attack as solid confirmation of his views on Islamic radicalism and his would-be policies on the war of terror, which include limiting Muslim immigration. Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton will most likely focus on gun control -- as if that will prevent terrorists from getting guns -- and hope other events will soon make the horrors of Orlando fade from the minds of the American public.
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