Reuven Koret is publisher of israelinsider and CEO of Koret Communications.
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The destruction of the World Trade Center complex and the assault on the Pentagon were attacks on the primary symbols of American economic and military power. The cowardly massacre of the innocents within, for which the perpetrators appear unwilling to claim responsibility, is an act on a scale singular in its horror in recent years. An even greater danger is that it will become a precedent, an inspiration for future outrages. Within months or years, if not now, the fundamental Islamic states and terror groups will have at their disposal nuclear weapons to complement their existing stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons. As the abomination in New York and Washington proves, they will not hesitate to use genocide as a policy.

The Islamic fanatics have declared Jihad -- holy war -- against the West. An appropriate, intelligent, and sophisticated response is imperative.

The World Trade Center and the Pentagon were chosen by the enemies of Western Civilization because of their import as symbols of our society. Their destruction is designed to create a negative space in the souls of Americans and all democracies, to undermine our confidence in our strength. Next in line, if the Jihadists have their way, will be the White House, the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge, Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Kremlin. All are at immediate risk, everyone knows it, and the inspired followers of radical Islam have had their appetites opened.

In retrospect, we can see that the precedent for the attacks on America was set six months ago, when Taliban soldiers used explosives to destroy the towering statues of Buddha, revered as historical icons of Afghanistan's pre-Islamic past. Only at the last minute did world leaders try to intervene. "Everyone who is coming now is too late. We have destroyed 80 per cent of the statues. There is only a small amount left and we will destroy that soon," said a spokesman for the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar. He was right. Now all of these majestic symbols of Buddhist culture are gone forever. Gone like the twin towers.

Let us be clear: all Muslims are not to blame for the evil of some of their coreligionists. The vast majority of believers in Islam, no doubt, are regular folks, living normal, non-fanatical lives, content to raise children and do their jobs. Yet their religion and their institutions, in America and throughout the world, have been allowed to breed a fanaticism and a hatred that now mortally threatens the Western world.

The West must first protect its own people, and its institutions. That means communicated in private channels a deterrent policy that will make the next suicide bombers and their masters think seventy times before entertaining the possibility of a reprise of the September 11 atrocities.

The Jihadists must believe with an absolute certainty that the next outrage against a symbol of the West will provoke a reciprocal response against a corresponding site of great significance to Islam.

No sane person or nation would attack the holy sites of Islam. It would ignite a fury of unprecedented dimensions encompassing one billion Muslims. It would, literally, set the entire region ablaze. It would be punishing the innocent many for the deeds of the guilty few. And yet: the Islamic faithful must understand deep in their souls that the outrages of September 11th must never again -- NEVER AGAIN -- be repeated. When they allow their extremists to play with fire, when they allow them to live and plot among them, everyone and everything they hold sacred risks being burned.

May the holy shrines of Islam may continue to serve the peaceful worshippers of Allah. But should the Jihadists ever again dare to launch a genocidal assault on the people and symbols of Western civilization--let them know beyond the shadow of a doubt that they will be repaid in the coin of what is sacred to them. Perhaps the terrifying foreknowledge of this inevitable consequence will awaken moderate forces in the Muslim world to expel the extremists from their midst.

The West must help the murderers to learn the language and logic of divine retribution: he who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind.

May the time soon come when the faithful of Islam turn to face Mecca, invoking the divine spirit of justice to extirpate those who pervert the words of their Prophet and defame the name of a noble faith that professes peace.

Views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.

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