Another Voice on the Christmas Day Terrorist Plan

Here we are six days into a new year and a new decade. The weather is bitterly cold, not only here but elsewhere. I heard this morning that it was the coldest in Great Britain it had been in 30 years, and there was no end in sight. Last week record snowfall closed the airports in Beijing, China. Floridians are worried about severe damage to fruits and vegetables because of the cold. Hey, I thought we were supposed to be having global warming. I could use a good dose of it about now.

Of course the talk of most blogsites and talk shows concerns the breakdown in airport security that allowed a terrorist to board a plane on Christmas Day. Thankfully Mr. Abduhlmutallab was not very skilled at detonating the fuse in his underwear, or a greater tragedy would have occurred. Quickly Administration officials went public to declare that the system worked. And I asked myself the question: How can they say that? This known terrorist - and he was known to authorities because his father, a leading businessman in Nigeria, had reported on his son's activities to American authorities in Nigeria - the very place where he boarded that plane on Christmas Day. Another Administrative official said that there were no "smoking guns," no "red flags." To have known that this man had been in Yemen and had received training from Al-Qaeda personnel there should have raised immediate concerns. This man should not have been allowed on that airplane from Nigeria, and certainly not from Amsterdam. In spite of what our governmental leaders have told us, the system did not work...period. Praise God that He was watching over that flight, otherwise nearly 300 souls would have been ushered into eternity.

I believe in airport security. I don't always enjoy it though, but I know it is necessary. I have been through the screenings in Frankfurt, Germany...tough. I have been through the screenings in Mumbai, India...tough. But none compare to the screenings in Tel Aviv, Israel. Since I am the tour leader, I am given the privilege of being interrogated by the screening officers there. Their questions are direct. You soon learn that they mean no "monkey-business." You give them honest and direct answers. Where have you visited? Whom did you see? What did you purchase? From whom did you purchase those items? Where did you stay? The last time I was leaving Israel, this screening took several minutes. And, of course, having a Jordanian visa stamped into my passport only made the questioning more intense. But, when was the last time you heard of an airplane from Tel Aviv being blown up because a terrorist had gotten on board.

The news media has proclaimed that the Christmas Day event was a terrorist failure. If, by that you mean that no lives were lost and a plane was not blown up, then you would be correct. But I think the event was a success. If I were an Al Qaeda leader, I would look upon our reactions and laugh. A terrorist does not have to necessarily accomplish his or her objectives - in this case the blowing up of a plane. No, a terrorist is successful if he causes his target to react with fear and panic. Did we do this? Absolutely...nothing in a person's lap for the final hour of the flight...no blankets or pillows...no bathroom availability. Was any thought given to the validity of these actions. No! It was an over reaction to the failed plans of Mr. Abduhlmutallab.

Friends, we are in a war with a great evil philosophy and religion. It truly is a spiritual battle. It is imperative that we begin to understand this new war in that light. It is imperative that we clothe ourselves in the armor of God...each piece of it. It is imperative that we close ranks together as believers to encourage each other as the battle intensifies. God has promised us the victory...but the battles may get messy before the final victory is won.

Next week I want to focus on the most significant events of the past decade. Perhaps you will want to make your list and then we can compare.