There are those who seek to portray the refusal of British holidaymakers to allow two suspiciously acting Arabs on a flight as a victory for terrorists.

The truth is, however, that the exact opposite is the case. This was a clear victory for people who felt threatened and took steps to protect themselves.

Do you know what a victory for terrorists would have been? To allow the dodgy—looking pair on board and then wonder in fear whether they are going to blow up the plane in mid—flight. The holidaymakers did the right and rational thing — they removed the perceived threat and traveled home in peace.

They have also put the British government — which still stubbornly refuses to profile Arabs and Muslims — on notice. It will either do what is needed to protect its citizens or it will face a rebellion among the population. The travelers on that flight are to be applauded, because they showed us that we do not have to cower in fear when our governments refuse to do what is necessary to protect us.

The mutiny on that Manchester—bound flight was a stinging rebuke to a government which is not doing enough to protect its citizens and a sharp blow to terrorists who hope to exploit that government's weakness to carry out their murderous plots. The passengers acted and their message was clear: We do not appreciate being blown up by Muslims in our midst, and we are not going to put up with government—sponsored multicultural madness anymore.

Let's just hope that this attitude will translate into electoral fruit. We need to vote in officials who will take commonsensical measures to ensure our safety and eject multiculturalists willing to sacrifice the lives of innocent citizens on the altar of their misguided ideology.

Vasko Kohlmayer   8 21 06