Let's get serious about our survival

Terrorist attacks, murder/suicides, random murders of military peacekeepers and unbridled statements as to terrorist goals of annihilating our nation of "infidels" have left no doubt as to our enemy's intentions. A passive attitude of our citizenry toward this impending threat will guarantee our defeat.

Likewise, attempts to establish defenses along our borders, at international airports and at the massive number of vulnerable strategic U.S. targets at home and abroad are an exercise in futility, as acts of terrorism are almost totally indefensible. At this juncture, citizens will need to realize that the only defense against terrorism is offensive action.

Citizens will further need to realize that this offensive action will require that most funding and military strategy, by far, should be geared toward the gathering of human intelligence, infiltration of terrorist organizations and the destruction of these organizations from within.

To his credit, our president and administration understand this fact. He further understands that these offensive actions, due to their sensitive and clandestine nature, will require time. Because of the nature of the beast, the "time" required to organize and act will necessarily include our suffering of casualties for an extended period during the interim. This initial suffering of casualties will be the hardest part for our citizenry to accept.

Our citizenry had better get real serious about our nation's survival, and soon! There is but one choice: Find and destroy the terrorists.

Armond "Si" Simmons,

Pell City, Ala.