Massacre in Uganda and its Implications For All of Us

The news out of Kampala is terrible, but hardly shocking. The Somali terrorist group Al-Shababb is claiming responsibility for two bombs that went off in the capital of Uganda killing 74 innocent people-as they were committing the "crime" of watching the World Cup soccer match. It is also alarming because that organization of barbarians has now demonstrated that they can kill soft targets (can't they all?) outside of their own miserable country.

So why did they do it? Most likely because Uganda is a participant to the African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia. Of course, these same barbarians are also known for killing people in Somalia for watching soccer. Then there is this:

"Uganda is one of our enemies. Whatever makes them cry, makes us happy. May Allah's anger be upon those who are against us,"

-Yusuf Sheikh Issa
Al Shababb leader
(Fox News)

This, of course, is of concern to everyone even beyond our sorrow for the innocents in Uganda, a country that not so long ago was living under the nightmare years of Idi Amin Dada. Don't forget all those tens of thousands of Somalis we decided to bring to the US, some of whom subsequently disappeared and turned up back in Somalia to join al-Shababb. You think what happened in Uganda can't happen here? Think again. Or better yet, ask Ayaan Hirsi Ali, herself a Somali who arrived via Holland after her life got to the point it wasn't worth a plugged nickel in that squeamish country.

Of course, that doesn't mean all Somalis in the US are a threat to us. (Ayaan Hirsi Ali is one of my personal heroes.) We still can benefit from even more immigrants-including from Africa. It does, however, underline the need for us to control who comes here and consider the probability of assimilation. It is a fact that several Somali communities in the US (Arizona, Minnesota and Colorado) have shown a distinct disinclination to assimilate. It is also a fact that several young men have left to join Al-Shababb.

It all comes down to this; to anyone who comes here legally, obeys the law, assimilates and accepts our values, I say "welcome." (and that includes Africans and Muslims, so don't go there.)In fact, most of my social circle of friends come from other countries-from all over the world. But why do we keep allowing people who hate us and our values to settle here, obtain US citizenship, and dream of the day when they can destroy what we stand for? If our State Department wants to bring in Somalis-or any other nationality- they can do so, but is appropriate screening of individuals not possible? Obviously, that was not done.