A FEW LESSONS ON HOMEGROWN TERROR

THE ARRESTS of the doltish Fort Dix Six - what terrorist worth his salt leaves damning videotape evidence in the hands of a Circuit City clerk? - have intensified the focus on America's homeland security.
The arrests also show how ineffectively immigration laws are being enforced - three suspects belong to a family from Macedonia that has lived in this country illegally for 20 years.

This case in our very own back yard makes a few other things clear, too.

Keep your eyes and ears open

Sounds like a phrase from the World War II's Office of War Information, and fits nicely with the current "war on terror."

Sounds like a phrase from the World War II's Office of War Information, and fits nicely with the current "war on terror."
But it was a suspicious Circuit City employee in Mount Laurel, N.J., who contacted authorities after he was asked to make a transfer from video to DVD of scenes that included young men firing assault rifles and calling for jihad.

Terrorists can be dumb

Besides trying to get their incriminating tape transferred to DVD, this is the crew that couldn't drive straight. Two of the suspects, brothers Eljvir and Dritan Duka, had no licenses and dozens of violations. Another brother, Shain, had a license, but it expired in 2003. (If they're here illegally, how did they get driver's licenses?)

Besides trying to get their incriminating tape transferred to DVD, this is the crew that couldn't drive straight. Two of the suspects, brothers Eljvir and Dritan Duka, had no licenses and dozens of violations. Another brother, Shain, had a license, but it expired in 2003. (If they're here illegally, how did they get driver's licenses?)
 
Homeland security post-9/11

It's great that federal local law-enforcement corralled the wannabe terrorists.

It's great that federal local law-enforcement corralled the wannabe terrorists.
But they need more help and money. This shows, as President Bush continues the war in Iraq, a greater portion of the billions spent there needs to stay here. The arrests indicate that a greater threat actually may be from within, not from al Qaeda.

Forget immigration stereotypes

Think of an "illegal immigrant," and the picture that often leaps to mind is a worker from Mexico.

Think of an "illegal immigrant," and the picture that often leaps to mind is a worker from Mexico.
Just ask those frat boys at the University of Delaware. At their Cinco de Mayo party, some dressed as gardeners, or wore name-tags reading "Pedro" or "Jose."

The Duka family came from the former Yugoslavia in 1984. They sought asylum, were denied, but stayed anyway - for 20 years before they were exposed. Two of the Duka boys were students at Cherry Hill High School West.

As the immigration debate gears up anew in Washington, the Fort Dix case raises the question: Why can't we even enforce the immigration laws already on the books? This is less a wake-up call on terrorism than a call for the feds to get the money and other resources to enforce immigration laws against all who are in this country illegally. *