TERRORIST ATTACK TWARTED

It was a very chilling sight to wake this morning to find that a major terrorist attack targeting The United States was stopped shortly before the attack was to begin. I am sure that you are very aware that British and Pakastani Muslim terrorists planned to board 6-10 American, United and Continental flights bound from the UK to the US and explode liquid devises which were designed to bypass security. The plan was to detinate the explosive in flight to the US destinations. As has been said throughout the day this attack would have been horrendous with a loss of life similar to that of 9/11. All indications are that because of the sophistication and the international reach of the terror plot Al Qaeda is behind it though there has not been official confrimation of this. Twenty four terrorists have been arrested with extensive searches under way for at least ten more. In the US this morning two Muslim men were arrested in Ohio after a routine traffic stop revealed in a corresponding search $11,000 in cash, 12 cell phones as well as airport security information and a map containing the location of all Walmarts from Ohio, Kentucky, Tennesee and North and South Carolina. This brings it close to home for me because I live in the Myrtle Beach, SC area which has six Walmart locations. Cell phones are used as detinating devises for bombs by dialing a pre-set number which activates the explosives. There is no word yet as to whether this incident is related to the thwarted attack from the UK but the coincidence is also chilling.

Today's victory in stopping this major attack is yet one more reminder of the fact that we are at war with Islamic extremists who will use any and all means at their disposal to kill our citizens and attack out nation. This is why we fight and why we must win the war on terror because the very existence of terrorists threatens the very freedoms and beliefs that we as Americans stand for. Their existence also threatens every civilized and democratized nation on the face of the earth. I took the opportunity to watch, "World Trade Center, " yesterday and this excellent and must see film which chrinocles the lives of two Port Authority Police Officers and their families on 9/11 brought once again the horrors and heroism of a day which is always in all of our memories. Then to wake this morning with another all to real reminder of murderous forces whose only goal is the destruction of our country and all who live within our borders and realized once again that though the cost of freedom is high it is a price that Americans have always paid and will continue to pay. This war will not be measured in days, months or even a few years as all others have but in many years or even decades until terrorism is eliminated from the earth. Today's thwarted attack shows that though the struggle is real and lasting we are winning this war and every terrorist that wishes us harm also had a wake up call as did our nation. We as a country were reminded once again why we fight and that we are at war. The terrorists were reminded that they will lose and their goal of global Islamic fascism will die as will each who threaten or harm us or our friends.

Ken Taylor