A Well Deserved Thank You
By Bernard B. Kerik

As the countdown begins to end the year of 2007, and with the press and media focused primarily on the 2008 Presidential primaries that begins in just days, I think it is important for us to remember that we are still a country at war and we still face serious threats against our national security.

The successes by General David Patraeus and his troops in Iraq are continuing. Successes so great, that Patraeus was recently named runner up to TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” Vladimir Putin. Unfortunately, his achievements have gone almost unnoticed by the general public here in the United States as good new takes a back seat to the bad. Patraeus would say that TIME’s recognition should go to his troops as most would agree, but the troops needed a leader to follow and he was definitely the right man for the job.

This week, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior reported that 75% of Al-Qaeda’s networks in Iraq had been destroyed in the past 12 months. There have been sharp declines in assassinations, kidnappings and death squad murders and increased patrols along the borders of Saudi Arabia and Syria which have played a key role in Iraq’s security situation. What I find incredible about all of this, is the silence of thanks, gratitude and commendation to the President and General Patraeus. The battle is obviously not over, but the outcome has definitely changed course. Where are their critics now?

As our concentration on Iraq and Afghanistan must continue, we should not lost sight of the battles ahead.

With Al-Qaeda claiming responsibility for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan, Osama Bin Laden’s renewed threats against Israel and Iran’s announcement that their first atomic power plant will start operating in mid-2008, we can’t put our guard down for even a second.

The enemies in this war against the United States and those countries that live in freedom around the world are still out there. Bin Laden, although crippled by having no real chain of command and critical infrastructure, still has a following of sick and demented worshippers that are willing to sacrifice themselves at his calling. The thought of Pakistan’s nuclear capability falling into the hands of Al-Qaeda is chilling and the thought of Iran having nuclear capability is even worse, particularly when the leader of that country continues to call for the annihilation of Israel and those that support it.

This is definitely not the time to lose sight of what happened on September 11, 2001; who was responsible then and who our enemies are today.

The War against Terror must continue, both here and abroad, and as this year ends and a new begins, let us take a moment to thank those fighting this war. Those that serve in our armed forces and the coalition governments around the world and equally as important, our first responders and the local, state and federal law enforcement authorities that have foiled one plot after another right here in the United States.

The sacrifices they have made and continue to make, are responsible for the blanket of freedom that we lay under each and every day.

God Speed to them and their families that sacrifice as well.

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