A fight for the survival of civilization

After declaring “Islam hates us” during his presidential campaign, chiding his predecessor for avoiding the words “Islamic terrorists,” President Trump told Saudi Arabian and Middle Eastern leaders “Islam is one of the world’s great faiths” and it was up to them to stop supporting terror and banish terrorists from their countries.

Those terrorists, the Islamic State in particular, claimed responsibility for Monday night’s brutal suicide attack on young fans in Manchester, England, attending American pop star Ariana Grande’s concert.

The bombing seemed similar to the Boston Marathon attack, although the bomber himself died in the blast, but another, 23-year-old man was arrested in connection. Witnesses reported seeking bolts and bits of metal, reminiscent of the pressure-cooker bombs used in Boston.

“We struggle to comprehend the warped and twisted mind that sees a room packed with young children not as a scene to cherish but as an opportunity for carnage,” said British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Speaking after a meeting in Bethlehem with a Palestinian leader, Trump expressed solidarity with the United Kingdom following the blast, condemning the “evil losers” behind it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the American president’s conclusion, saying “It’s our job to make sure that they continue to lose.”

It was an especially barbaric crime, targeting teen and pre-teen fans of a star known for wearing kitten ears and pink balloons.

Security was reportedly inconsistent before the show, with some being searched and others allowed inside without being stopped.

Such searches, whether at a concert or before boarding an airliner, are a reminder of the fact that the West is under attack by those who would destroy our way of life and impose their own.

We’re not in a battle against a simple, warped ideology; we’re in a fight for the survival of civilization itself.