Ideals are nice, but focus on facts

If you are perceived as weak on security there are only two options available. The first is to change the perception through actual strength. The second is to somehow equivocate and attack the perception itself. The threats are not really that serious. Throw in a little counterintuitive Ivy League "well, we are actually responsible and if we treat everyone nice they'll play nice" blather and the playbook moves to the actual playing field. But those darn pesky facts just keep getting in the way.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad thumbs his nose at Obama's peace sign. Released Gitmo killers rejoin the fight. Allah Akbar becomes a killing cry at Fort Hood. Now the "underwear bomber." By all means, let's not use the word "terrorist" because that might upset them. Or, maybe the Bush-Cheney post-911 miracle seems to be unraveling.

Here are a few cold hard truths.

• Just because a temporary majority of Americans were charmed by Obama does not mean that will translate internationally. It hasn't, and the playground bullies see him as weak and vulnerable. Evil does not mean stupid.

• There really are people out there who want to kill us, and there is nothing you can do to change their minds.

• Giving Constitutional rights and protections to those people is the most patently stupid idea in the world.

• Gitmo is the best place to keep them when they get caught.

• Until somebody actually dies from waterboarding, keep the bathtub full.

This ain't Kansas, folks.

If all this reality makes you a little squeamish remember Washington hanged spies, Lincoln shut down newspapers, and we took very few prisoners during the Pacific war. If it comes down to us or them, I vote them!

Steve Quick

Arlington Heights