ALREADY – AT 11:06 A.M. ET:  We got through the holiday in America without an attempted terrorist attack, and again we're reminded of those who stand guard.  Sadly, Egypt wasn't that lucky.  The new year was welcomed in a most unfriendly way.  From AP:

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — A powerful bomb exploded in front of a crowded Coptic Christian church a half hour into the New Year early Saturday, hitting worshipers emerging from a holiday Mass in the Egyptian city of Alexandria and killing at least 21 people in an attack that raised suspicions of an al-Qaida role.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak vowed to track down those behind the attack, saying "we will cut off the hands of terrorists and those plotting against Egypt's security."

"This terrorist act has shaken the conscience of the nation," he said in a statement, adding that "all Egypt was targeted, and terrorism does not distinguish between Copt and Muslim."

Police initially said the blast came from an explosives-packed car parked outside the Saints Church. But the Interior Ministry later said it was more likely from a suicide bomber on foot.

Both tactics are hallmarks of al-Qaida militants, and the blast came as the terror network's branch in Iraq has waged a campaign of violence against that country's Christian community and raised the threat of similar attacks in Egypt.

COMMENT:  When will we ever learn?  When will the "intellectuals," "scholars" and "journalists" learn that al-Qaida represents an ideology, a world view.  Its actions are not simply a reaction to "American policies" or "the plight of the Palestinians." 

Muslim extremists want to wipe out Christianity and Judaism.  They make that clear, but too many won't listen.  The assault on Christianity in progress in Iraq is deeply disturbing, and makes a mockery of our sacrifice there.  Now, apparently, the campaign has spread to Egypt. 

January 1, 2011