ISIS, not refugees, are the true enemy

There are some who believe we have a Muslim problem. What we actually have is an extremist, terrorist problem. ISIS is about as Muslim as the KKK is Christian. Both are murderous, barbaric, brutal, far removed from anything resembling remotely human.

ISIS does make the KKK look like preschoolers in comparison. Yet both have perverted the religions they claim to ape to justify the most brutal, savage acts of violence and murder.

They have nothing to do with the teachings of true Islam.

The bombing of jetliner over the skies of Egypt, suicide bombings in Beirut and Baghdad and the ghastly attack in Paris are all acts of terror that ISIS claims to have committed. The Paris attacks speak of the sophistication, coordination and execution as three firearm and suicide bomb teams roamed through the streets of Paris delivering death. This was a well planned attack which cost the lives of 129 and injured over 350 innocents in the city of light.

How? It is well known that unlike al­Qeada and the Taliban, ISIS is very skilled in everything tech. This is how they recruit people into their dark and twisted world; a cult of death. This is how they planned acts of terror and it is strongly believed this is how they executed such attacks. The internet and our love for digital devices is our Achilles heel and they know it. They are using it as an effective weapon.

What we must do somehow is take away this ability from them. Shut them down, hunt them down, bring them down either to a jail cell or a grave. Who must do this? Everyone in the free world, because ISIS is a direct threat to every soul on the planet.

They target everyone they don't like and frankly they hate everybody — the people they kill the most are Muslims.

Some are calling for U.S. troops in Syria. This could start another long, drawn out conflict and cost thousands of U.S soldiers and trillions of dollars. The U.S. cannot do this alone nor bear the brunt of ground troops like it did in Iraq and Afghanistan. More countries and allies old and new need to step up to take ISIS on. Russia and the U.S. need to come to terms and take ISIS on together. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The enemy of civilization is ISIS, not a religion.

As for Syrian refugees, these poor people are fleeing that war torn country in droves. Why? Because they are caught in the middle of the fighting between the U.S., French, Syrians, Russians, Turks, Iraqis and ISIS. Is it any wonder thousands are fleeing from being under all those gunsights? They are fleeing a nightmare for good reason.

The human flood is taking a toll on European nations. President Obama wants to bring in 10,000 Syrians to our shores in a small effort to stem the tide somewhat. Many (mostly Republicans) balked at this, citing fears that ISIS will somehow try smuggle in some their own amongst the refugees. That is to include about 31 state governors saying no to refugees from that country into their states. Some even stated they might be willing take Christians but not Muslims. This outlandish notion was also from some our more conservative candidates for president. It has become a trigger issue in the campaign and across the nation.

I would like to thank Governor Walker for not giving in and letting Alaska to join those calls. That, sir, takes guts.

The hardest way to get into this country is as a refugee. It takes about two or more years of vetting to get in to our country by the government. There are better and easier ways for terrorists to slip in.

Let the Syrians come, at least let's give them a chance. Vet them, check them out thoroughly, and if any don't pass the muster they don't get in. Lives are at stake here.

ISIS would like nothing better than to see all the refugees dead. Any chance of getting them back into those blood stained hands must be prevented. History must not be repeated.

Back in the early days of WWII and just prior to the outbreak of that war, Jews from all over Europe were fleeing in droves, many trying to get to the safety of our shores. Many in this country balked at the notion of letting them in, including the territory of Alaska. They were turned back, and thousands who could have been saved died in Nazi death camps.

We must take these refugees for the sake of humanity.

ISIS are a group of death dealing, barbaric thugs of the lowest order. They need to be dealt with head on and that is going on right now.

Until that conflict is resolved we must let the people fleeing from that nightmare a chance of life lived in freedom — no matter what their religion. According our Constitution all are free to worship here. Religion should never be used as an admittance test. If it comes down to that, crumple up the Constitution and burn it.

Americans have a reputation of helping the helpless and fighting for freedom. We should never give in to fear or hate or terror. We can do the right thing for humanity and protect our security at the same time. Let's not give in to the fear-mongering of paranoid politicians and moronic media. We are better than that. We need to offer the refugees of Syria a helping hand out of the hell and terror of ISIS instead of a door slammed in their faces.

Let us not repeat history.

Daniel D. Grota is a retired U.S. Army veteran with over 21 years in service who served in the first Gulf War. He is also a Tuesday morning co-host on KVRF 89.5 FM, Radio Free Palmer. Write to him at news@frontiersman.com.