First, full disclosure.  I don’t know anything about what’s going on.  But for that matter, neither do you.  That information is being closely held by the intelligence community and by the Muckety-Mucks of the American government. 

But here’s what they’ve told us:  There’s a lot of terrorist chirping from al-Qaeda, more than at any time since 9-11.  And that apparently indicates to those who know that some big terrorist plot is about to explode against Americans, perhaps in Yemen or some other Mideast country.

Accordingly, the President has closed our embassies in nineteen Middle Eastern countries—indefinitely--and issued travel alerts to Americans that major attacks on the level of 9-11 may be aimed at tourist sites or transportation hubs.

Well, one wants to be careful when anticipating terrorist attacks, of course.  And maybe this is a prudent move.  But how do you feel about America’s response?  What kind of impression does it leave?  I think I see the image of a child cowering in the corner of the school yard hoping that the bully won’t notice him.

If you are the greatest power in the world, why do you send out the message that you are afraid of terrorists?  A person may be afraid.  And history is full of examples of leaders who show weakness in the face of threats.  But that doesn’t mean one ought to give in to fear.

In the 1790s the nations of the world were cringing before the Barbary pirates (from the word barbaric).  These were the Muslim ancestors of the present day terrorists, and they operated out of Turkey, Tunis, Tripoli, Morocco, and Algiers.  They roamed the Mediterranean, assaulting the ships of Christian nations, seizing cargo, and holding captives for ransom.  Over the years they extorted payment for 1.2 million captives.  It was a lucrative business.  The European nations whimpered and quietly paid up.  At one point the United States spent 17 percent of its national budget on ransoms.

But then in 1801 Thomas Jefferson became President, and he promptly dispatched the United States Marines, transported by the new US Navy, to end this tyranny once and for all.  It is from the Barbary Wars that the Marine Corps draws the line for its famous song, “…to the shores of Tripoli.”

There’s a story in the Bible that comes to mind.   In I Samuel 17 the army of Israel is drawn up in battle lines against the armies of the Philistines.  The Philistines have a ten-foot-tall warrior named Goliath who struts out to challenge the men of Israel---a one-on-one match-up to settle the war.  Goliath roars out his summons, and the Bible says, “All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.” (v24)  They hide.  They cower.  Even King Saul trembles. 

Goliath was a terrorist.   The purpose of terror is to scare one’s enemy into immobility.  Goliath was amply succeeding.

A boy strolls into the Israeli camp and when he hears the giant’s shout, he is incensed.  He says, “Who is this…Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v 26)  And you know the story, how it ends.  Five round stones, each about the size of a tennis ball, and a sling.  One shot and the giant is down.  One slice with a sword and he’s dead.  David wasn’t the only kid good with a sling and a stone.  But he was the only one with courage born of faith in God.

In the end, evil is never stronger than good.  Truth is always more powerful than lies.  We never lack enemies to fear.  Their tactic is ever to terrorize.  But if we are the “good guys,” why should we shrink back?   Unless, perhaps, our faith in God is not what it once was.

Dr. Rick Perrin is Chairman of the Board of WRF and senior pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cherry Hill NJ.  He writes a weekly blog called ReTHINK which may be accessed at www.rethinkingnews.wordpress.com. He may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Tags: Terror Alert President Obama Closure American Embassies