Once in a while, not often enough, one sees a person of principle standing against pressure to conform to political correctness. Such is the case with New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly. Kelly has defended the police department's program on counter-terrorism after criticism about cops monitoring Muslim communities in the city and beyond. Kelly said, "People have short memories as to what happened here in 2001."
Indeed they do. Kelly said, "It would be folly for us to focus only on the five boroughs of New York City, and we have to use all our resources to protect everyone."
Kelly suggested that criticism of the monitoring program by some political candidates is "pandering" that ignores the department's core mission. He added, "What we're trying to do is save lives and the tactics and strategies that we've used on the streets of this city have indeed saved lives."
I say good for him. I only wish we had more leaders with a backbone like Ray Kelly.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Publication date: February 29, 2012
