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It’s Time for Honest Talk about Muslim Immigration
National REview ^ | November 30, 2016 | David French

Posted on 12/01/2016 4:22:04 AM PST by SJackson

It’s Time for Honest Talk about Muslim Immigration

Some immigrants from jihad zones will be involved in murdering Americans. Is this an acceptable price for compassion?

By David French — November 30, 2016

At 9:52 a.m. on Monday morning, a silver Honda jumped a curb at Ohio State University and plowed directly into a crowd of students, sending bodies flying through the air. As students rushed to help, a young Somali immigrant, Abdul Razak Ali Ratan, got out of the car and began attacking horrified students with a butcher knife. All told, eleven people were wounded before a university police officer shot and killed Ratan, ending the attack.

Ratan is the third Muslim immigrant to mount a mass stabbing attack in 2016. The first occurred at an Israeli-owned deli in Columbus, Ohio, the second at a mall in Saint Cloud, Minn., and the third Monday at Ohio State. The attacks together wounded 25 people. The latest stabbing comes on the heels of Afghan immigrant Ahman Khan Rahami’s September bomb attacks in New York and New Jersey that left 29 injured.

The toll continues. Muslim immigrants Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev killed five Americans and wounded 280 in the Boston Marathon bombing and subsequent shootouts. Muslim immigrant Muhammad Abdulazeez killed five men and wounded two in attacks on military recruiting stations in Chattanooga, Tenn. Muslim immigrant Tashfeen Malik accompanied her first-generation Muslim-American husband to attack a Christmas party in San Bernardino, Calif., killing 14 and wounding 22. First generation Muslim-American Omar Mateen — son of Afghan immigrants — carried out the deadliest domestic terror attack since 9/11, killing 49 and wounding 53 at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub.

And if you think these are the only terrorist immigrants — or terrorist children of immigrants — you’re sadly mistaken. The Heritage Foundation has maintained a comprehensive database of terror plots since 9/11, a database that includes foiled attacks. The number of Muslim immigrants involved is truly sobering. For every successful attack, there are multiple unsuccessful plots, including attacks that could have cost hundreds of American lives.

After all these incidents, can we finally have an honest conversation about Muslim immigration — especially Muslim immigration from jihadist conflict zones?

RELATED: It’s Time We Faced the Facts about the Muslim World

When we survey the American experience since 9/11, two undeniable truths emerge, and it’s past time that we grapple head-on with them. First, the vast majority of Muslim immigrants — no matter their country of origin — are not terrorists. They won’t attack anyone, they won’t participate in terrorist plots, and they abhor terrorism. Some even provide invaluable information in the fight against jihad. That’s the good news.

The bad news is the second truth: Some Muslim immigrants (or their children) will either attempt to commit mass murder or will actually succeed in killing and wounding Americans by the dozens. All groups of immigrants contain some number of criminals. But not all groups of immigrants contain meaningful numbers of terrorists. This one does. It’s simply a fact.

Moreover, there isn’t an even geographic distribution of terrorists. We don’t have as many terrorist immigrants from Indonesia, India, or Malaysia as we do from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, or from the conflict zones in the Middle East. It’s much less risky to bring into the country a cardiologist from Jakarta than a refugee from Kandahar.

If the Democrats wish to maintain immigration from jihadist conflict zones, they need to rid their rhetoric of the language of “Islamophobia” and tell the truth. If they want to continue admitting refugees from jihad zones, they need to make the case that meeting the humanitarian needs of an an extremely small fraction of the world’s Muslim refugees is worth the cost of importing a small number of mass murderers. They must make the case that the human toll in America is the price we must pay for national compassion. Of course no Democrat wants a terror attack to occur, but Democrats must understand and acknowledge that under present policies, such attacks will occur — despite our best efforts to stop them.

But I’d submit that America can show compassion without opening its borders to an uncertain number of jihadist killers. We can maintain and expand existing safe zones in the Middle East. We can project power to continue to roll back ISIS and provide space for people to return to their homes. We can implement new tests for immigrants and restrict immigration from volatile regions. At the same time, we can avoid paranoia and appreciate the peacefulness and patriotism of the vast majority of our existing Muslim population.

The Trump administration has an opportunity to implement a rational policy — one that rewards friends, preserves Muslim homes in the Middle East, and protects our borders far more effectively than did the Obama administration. In the 15 years of American engagement since 9/11, we have worked with a host of interpreters, allied soldiers, and sympathetic officials — many of whom have endured enormous risks to fight jihad. We should welcome these people with open arms. Muslim immigrants from outside jihadist conflict zones should be welcome as well, provided that they do not profess allegiance to the ideology of our enemies.

RELATED: No, We Are Not ‘Doing Everything We Can’

During the Cold War, American law denied entry to the United States to any alien who wrote, published, or advocated “the economic, international, and governmental doctrines of world communism or the establishment in the United States of a totalitarian dictatorship.” We continue to maintain an escalating series of ideological litmus tests for visa recipients and green-card holders. We can and should expand those tests to deny entry to any visitor or immigrant who advocates the doctrines or ideas of ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban, and any other recognized terrorist organization — including by expressing support on social media for the goals, theology, politics, or leadership of those organizations. Indeed, the list should expand beyond known terrorists so that we’d exclude those who support the doctrines or ideas of the Muslim Brotherhood or the Iranian Revolution.

Beyond this basic test, it is simply not in America’s national interest to admit refugees, visitors, or other immigrants from zones of jihadist activity unless they have a demonstrable record of loyalty to or cooperation with the United States or its allies. When we know that our enemy is seeking to infiltrate and indoctrinate these specific populations (and has greatest access to these populations), the burden of proof for immigration or entry should be squarely placed on the immigrant. If refugees need our aid, we should aid them in the Middle East.

During the primary, Trump outlined a number of immigration proposals, including proposals for “extreme vetting,” temporary suspension of immigration from “dangerous and volatile” regions that have a “history of exporting terrorism,” and establishing some form of additional ideological litmus tests as a condition for entry. He has also advocated establishing “safe zones” for Syrian refugees in Syria.

This is a promising start, but within weeks, he’ll have to get specific. It will be his responsibility to maintain Muslim alliances, protect America’s enormously profitable international tourist trade, and maintain the free flow of commerce across international borders, all while keeping out those men and women who seek to slaughter Americans in the streets. With the exception of his overbroad and misguided proposed temporary Muslim ban, Trump has been at his hard-headed best when it comes to understanding the need for a nation to protect its borders. Monday’s events at Ohio State demonstrate that it’s time to put his broad ideas into precise and effective practice.


TOPICS: Editorial; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aliens
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To: SJackson

They won’t attack anyone, they won’t participate in terrorist plots, and they abhor terrorism.”

Well, two out of three ain’t bad.


21 posted on 12/01/2016 5:13:41 AM PST by ConservativeDude
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To: WashingtonSource
Extreme Vetting and Deportations. Let the Exodus Begin.

How would extreme vetting stop this guy from getting in?

22 posted on 12/01/2016 5:16:17 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: kearnyirish2
Good luck with that; the enemedia won’t even refer to the recent attack as “terrorism” - they’re trying to sort out whether or not it qualifies.

Yes, they're whitewash "terrorism" by stating there's no direct connection to a terrorist group. What that leave us with is a "domestic" terrorist radicalized in his Mosque. In the US. Like a number of recent attackers. They won't like truth either.

23 posted on 12/01/2016 5:30:26 AM PST by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do !)
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To: SJackson

They openly redefined the term; small consolation to the victims...


24 posted on 12/01/2016 5:35:53 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: Geronimo

Try taking an orange from Arizona into California...


25 posted on 12/01/2016 5:38:01 AM PST by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.)
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To: SJackson
Of course no Democrat wants a terror attack to occur

That is not a given. If it will advance their power and control many of them will consider the loss of American lives a necessary sacrifice. You see, sacrificing other peoples' lives is one of their specialties.

26 posted on 12/01/2016 5:40:53 AM PST by katana
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To: SJackson

We need to follow Hungary’s example. Get rid of the muzzies that we have and don’t let any more in.


27 posted on 12/01/2016 5:46:47 AM PST by BuffaloJack (Own a rifle. Be an American.)
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To: SJackson

French and his other weakling cucks, all but enabled the effeminate left in dominating this country with hysteria over “isms”, “ists” and phobias. French is the problem


28 posted on 12/01/2016 5:51:03 AM PST by junta ("Peace is a racket", testimony from crime boss Barrack Hussein Obama.)
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To: SJackson

If Rubio won, does anyone think NR would have this article? Would they be part of a #neverrubio movement because he was soft on islam and illegals? Noooo


29 posted on 12/01/2016 5:55:00 AM PST by ari-freedom (The Social Justice War is over and we won!)
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To: SJackson

David French is a despicable traitor. His articles should be banned on FR.


30 posted on 12/01/2016 6:10:08 AM PST by montag813
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To: MNJohnnie

They (NRO) are low on my list of who/what I will read, but I will still embrace any good ideas they have. This article has some good ones. Being wrong about Trump doesn’t make them wrong about everything. (Even liberal democrats can theoretically be correct sometimes. If I ever notice an instance of that, I’ll let you know.)

I agree with the previous post, that deportation also needs to be discussed. I don’t see how you can have an honest discussion without that.


31 posted on 12/01/2016 6:32:08 AM PST by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
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To: SJackson

Hey! National Review!

You’re a DECADE LATE!


32 posted on 12/01/2016 6:45:31 AM PST by Uncle Miltie (The Media were SuperPacs for Clinton. Throw them in prison.)
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To: SJackson

Honestly, deport the muslims that are here and prevent any more from coming. Incompatibility is the reason. And the fact that many of them want to kill us.


33 posted on 12/01/2016 6:53:22 AM PST by lakecumberlandvet (APPEASEMENT NEVER WORKS.)
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To: SJackson
These self declared “Never Trump” know-it-alls just can’t stop babbling. They are now in the ‘I hope he fails’ mode and they can’t wait to say they told us he would fail. I hate these self-described “true Conservatives.” They will never have any credibility in my world. Every time they run their mouths they can’t help but cast their remarks on Trump in condescending tones. Levin started his schtick the day after Trump won the election by proclaiming he was ready to hold Trump accountable at every turn, as if Trump could give a damn what Levin and his ilk say or do. Levin and NR, by their own actions, have become a small irrelevant gaggle in a new dawning Trump America.
34 posted on 12/01/2016 6:57:46 AM PST by iontheball
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To: iontheball

It isn’t Trump they despise, it’s us.


35 posted on 12/01/2016 6:59:33 AM PST by The Toll
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To: SJackson

Honesty has nothing to do with it. Libidiots are inherently self-centered, parasitic, and dishonest. A fruitful sit-down is impossible.


36 posted on 12/01/2016 8:06:12 AM PST by SgtHooper (If you remember the 60's, YOU WEREN'T THERE!)
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To: SJackson
It’s Time for Honest Talk about Muslim Immigration

Can't do it; TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH!

37 posted on 12/01/2016 10:05:44 AM PST by JimRed (Is it 1776 yet? TERM LIMITS, now and forever! Build the Wall, NOW!)
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To: mythenjoseph

For a deer-in-the-headlights response, ask a random senator, “Which is more important, your reelection or saving our nation from the koranimals?”


38 posted on 12/01/2016 11:29:48 AM PST by Jacquerie (ArticleVBlog.com)
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To: SJackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfmywzjdtRM

The majority of Muslim Refugees would rather be in Syria under Sharia Law than in America.


39 posted on 12/01/2016 1:37:01 PM PST by B4Ranch (Conservatives own 200,000,000 guns and a trillion rounds of ammo. If we were violent you'd know it.)
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To: The Toll

It isn’t Trump they despise, it’s us.
________________________________________
Yes, you are right. Trump is the embodiment of us so criticizing him is the same as criticizing us.


40 posted on 12/01/2016 3:24:52 PM PST by iontheball
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