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We awoke again Tuesday to dreadful news of terrorism. This time in Brussels, Belgium.
Just days ago in that capital city, international leaders praised the arrest of a key ISIS terrorist. At the same time, Belgian officials warned that more terrorists were at large and attacks were planned.
On Sunday, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders detailed for an audience at the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, believed to be one of the main plotters of the Paris attacks in November.
While in custody, Abdeslam told Belgian authorities “he was ready to restart something from Brussels” with his “networks” of terror cells, Reynders said. Then Reynders noted that intelligence sharing among the United States, European countries and other countries in the region – especially Turkey – is key to combating the threat in Europe.
He is right, of course. Terrorism is a global problem that requires global attention: Concentrated detective work and intelligence sharing must continue to improve – not just for Europe, but also for the United States and North America.
But even as officials in the forum were celebrating Abdeslam’s arrest under what Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., [one of two U.S. senators participating in the forum] described as “the long arm of the law,” planning apparently was underway for the Brussels attack – a tit for tat rewriting of the narrative offered by Sessions, who reportedly has been tapped to lead Donald Trump’s foreign policy team. At least 30 people have died and more than 100 are injured after twin suicide attacks in the Brussels airport and subway.
Speaking in Cuba, President Barack Obama forcefully condemned the attacks, saying such “outrageous” acts will not be tolerated.
“This is yet another reminder that the world must unite. We must be together, regardless of nationality or race or faith in fighting against the scourge of terrorism,” Obama said. “We can and we will defeat those who threaten the safety and security of people all around the world.”
Meanwhile, presidential candidates and congressmen – at least the Republican ones – forcefully condemned Obama, claiming he hasn’t done enough to combat ISIS.
Some of these congress members, you must recall, belong to the same U.S. Congress that has refused to send a message to our troops, the world and ISIS itself that they would finally authorize the use of military force against the ISIS. They criticize the president about what they call “no strategy,” but they, themselves, won’t even take a vote to shape and authorize one.
Our hearts go out to the citizens of Belgium and the families of those touched by the attack, and we believe our politicians need to think of others, not their own petty agendas.