The Star Tribune on how Moscow attack shows terrorism endures:
We join the world in mourning the 137 Russians killed in Friday’s horrific attack on a Moscow concert hall.
The geopolitical implications of the terrorism are far-ranging.
For the rest of the world, it’s a reminder that the scourge of Islamic extremism is still a lethal threat . ...
An ISIS offshoot group claiming responsibility for the mass murder, the Islamic State in Khorasan (usually referred to as ISIS-K), has carried out attacks in several nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and, now Russia. And it has its sights on Western targets as well . ...
The U.S. government warned Russia of an impending terror attack. But Russian President Vladimir Putin waved off the warning as “open blackmail” and “an attempt to frighten and destabilize our society.”
Instead, the Russian president frightened and destabilized Russian society by not protecting it from a clearly identified threat . ... Despite the warning and ISIS-K’S claim of responsibility, Putin pivoted to Ukraine, where he said the four captured terrorists were “moving toward.” Kyiv and Washington and nearly every non-russian analyst have completely discounted Ukrainian complicity. But that didn’t stop the Kremlincompliant media machine from amplifying the lies, constructing the justification for further internal repression and more warfare against its Western neighbor — which is a form of terrorism in its own right, given Russia’s targeting of innocent civilians and other alleged war crimes.
... Russia has stepped up its attacks and shows every sign of trying to take the entire country. So far it’s been unable to do so because of the courage and acumen of Ukrainian forces as well as admirable backing by NATO nations . ... But recently, particularly in Washington, a resolute response is increasingly uncertain — especially with many Republican lawmakers bowing to their presumptive presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump. He reportedly does not favor any more aid to Ukraine ...
The funding debate is likely to come up in Congress in the next week or so. It would be a profound geostrategic error to turn away from Ukraine at its hour of need. Republicans must put country over party and invest in the defense of Ukraine, which is ultimately in defense of our allies and our nation.
Similarly, there should be bipartisan consensus on the need to stay vigilant in the Middle East.
The extraordinarily turbulent world needs U.S. resolve now more than ever, lest there be even more tragedies like the one that killed and injured so many in Moscow last week.