AS WE WERE LOOKING ELSEWHERE:  One of our tasks here at Urgent Agenda is to alert readers to important events that are happening "in the background," not necessarily on the front page.  As an example, consider this chilling report about the last few days.  From Fox: 

A New York man who expressed support online for the Islamic State is charged with plotting to kill police officers and threatening to kill a mayor on the street where the local St. Patrick’s Day parade was slated to be held, federal prosecutors said Friday. 

Ridon Kola, 32, was arrested and charged with making threatening interstate communications, the Justice Department said. 

"As alleged, Ridon Kola posted threats on social media against law enforcement, stating his support for ISIS and his intention to murder numerous police officers.  Undeterred after questioning from law enforcement, Kola’s conduct escalated, as he continued to assure police his threats would be carried out," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. 

Over several months, Kola made several posts supporting the terror group and threats against the Yonkers Police Department in connection with the city's parade, which will be held Saturday. 

On March 9, Kola messaged the police department directly, saying: "First people to be crucified will be the Yonkers rats Vallahi.  Allahu Ekberr"; and "I will crucify Yonkers cops and their bosses all along McLean ave.  It will be a horror scene . . . Allahu Ekberr."  

McLean Avenue is part of the route for the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade where police officers will be posted throughout. 

In another post made days later, he took a photo of himself with an ax, authorities said. 

"Come on Judas, I’m waiting for you," the caption read in Albanian. 

COMMENT:  The fact is that the threat of terror is very much with us, and may grow in coming years if appeasement of Iran, the world's greatest sponsor of terror, continues.   Our guard is down.  Police departments, our front line of defense, are being gutted in too many "woke" places, and getting qualified officers is becoming harder and harder.

Terrorism is barely mentioned in the hard-left environment that pervades our colleges.  If it is, it is often defended as the "desperate" acts of oppressed people.  But terrorism is real, and will continue.  I fear it will take another 9-11, maybe even a nuclear 9-11, to wake us up.

March 18, 2023