2 arrests made in theft case

4-wheelers, tools stolen from Abbeville residents

February 3, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

Investigators with the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office have announced a pair of arrests in connection with a rash of thefts and burglaries centered around the Bulls Horne Road area in the northwest part of the county.
At least seven residents — likely more — have been victimized, with the stolen items ranging from lawn mowers to tools and chain saws. By far the most popular item being targeted by thieves has been the recreational four-wheeler.
Resident Charles Hall received a rudimentary wake-up call courtesy of his dogs recently, one that sparked an exciting chain of events — including a high-speed chase.
“My dogs started barking around 3:30 a.m. so I got up and there was a car going down the road,” Hall said. “I got on the front porch and here came that same little car back by, which I thought was kind of strange being that it was that late.
“Then I heard my Suzuki four-wheeler crank up in a field and I said to myself, ‘I know what they’re trying to do.’ I grabbed my .44 Magnum and tore off down the road after them. We had got maybe a half-mile away and I took a shot at the guy (on the four-wheeler).
“Right then he decided to abandon ship. It was in a ditch, so I had to call a wrecker the next day, but I got my four-wheeler back. There have been a lot of people to have things stolen around here. It’s just like a little ring or a little gang of them doing it.”
Another resident, Steve Adams, nearly had his new push lawnmower taken during the early morning hours.
Nearly, that is, since he also caught the thieves in the act.
“They had come in over the fence the other night, and the next morning my new push mower was way down in the back of my property,” Adams said. “It was brand new. I’d never even mowed grass with it.”
Adams was awakened when he heard a commotion outside near a shed. After investigating briefly, Adams fired his shotgun into the air to discourage any would-be thieves who might happen to be nearby — just in case.
“I guess they didn’t want to take it with them after all,” Adams said. “But they got my neighbor’s four-wheeler the other day. You can’t hardly do anything now with all the stealing going on over here.”
Investigators with the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Department had been aware of the break-ins and thefts for some time and were conducting an investigation.
That investigation has resulted in a pair of arrests.
“Over the last few months we’ve had a rash of lawn mowers and four-wheelers being stolen,” said Chief Deputy Marion Johnson. “Last week we did make an arrest on a subject that has turned up some stolen property from Anderson County and some from here in Abbeville County.”
Arrested last Thursday were 40-year-old Daniel Tracy Black and 42-year-old Wanda Diane Reid, both of 1116 Bulls Horne Road in Abbeville County.
After investigators executed a warrant at the suspects’ home, a search turned up about 8 grams of methamphetamines, or “ice” (street value of around $1,000), two firearms (an .870 Remington shotgun and a .45-caliber handgun), various ammunition and two check books and a class ring belonging to an Aiken man.
The “ice” was found lying out on the kitchen counter.
Both suspects were federally prohibited from possessing firearms. Each is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamines, possession of stolen property and subsequent weapons law violations.
“We believe (Black) was one of several that were involved in (the theft ring), and we still are investigating it,” Johnson said. “Another suspect involved with (Black) is currently incarcerated in Anderson County.”
Johnson said the mobility of four-wheelers and the liquidity of such items on the black market makes them very difficult to trace and track down once stolen.
“These types of items can get gone, and in a matter of hours, and be a state or two away,” he said. “That makes it hard to recover them when they’re being transported to other counties and states. It makes it tough.”
Johnson added that Black is on probation in Georgia and out on bond after being charged with similar crimes in nearby Anderson County.
He says things have quieted down in the Bulls Horne Road area considerably since the arrests.
“(Black) is still incarcerated, and it’s been a lot quieter up there than it’s been in a while,” Johnson said. Residents hope that continues.
“I hope this (arrest) will slow things down,” Hall said.

Local couple remembers slain missionary friend

February 3, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

Under normal circumstances, learning of a carjacking near Nairobi, Kenya — half a world away — wouldn’t stir even the morning coffee of the average South Carolinian, much less any sort of emotion.
But this was no average carjacking.
And the morning of Jan. 27 quickly became anything but normal for George and Jean Day, of Greenwood.
The carjacking involved some of their dearest friends in the world. And what’s more, longtime missionary Lois Anderson, affectionately known on the African continent as “Mama Lois,” and her daughter, Zelda White, were killed in a crime that quickly turned violent.
“Normally, a carjacking or something happening that far away wouldn’t impact us,” said Jean Day, who first met Lois Anderson on a Presbyteryian mission in Sudan. “It’s been very difficult for us, we’re just heartbroken about it.”
“It was definitely a shock for us,” George Day said.
News of the tragedy first broke early Jan. 27 as it was reported on the Al Jazeera (English) Web site.
While the area is no a stranger to violence, Kenya is considered one of the safer countries on the continent by officials with the Presbyterian Church.
According to the article posted on the Al-Jazeera Web site: “Carjackings are common in the Kenyan capital, nicknamed ‘Nairobbery’ by its residents, but (attacks) are far more likely to happen at night. The attack was the fourth in less than a year on diplomats or their families in Kenya and the second involving the U.S. diplomatic community. In September, a U.S. Embassy official was shot in the chest, while a month earlier the Russian ambassador was stabbed while on the roadside attending to a sick grandchild.”
George and Jean, members of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, said most of the members of their church easily remember Bill and Lois Anderson.
He was always “the one who got hit by the car” after surviving being hit not once, but twice, by oncoming cars while walking across the street in Clinton.
Bill Anderson had lost an eye years ago while serving on the mission field. The second of the two traffic accidents came while he was in his late seventies.
“Yes, that’s how everyone at our church remembered them,” George said. “They were both excellent speakers, and Bill even wrote a book on the history of the Presbyterian Church in Sudan — in English and in Arabic.”
Jean, a worldwide traveler herself, will miss the meals the couples once shared at Zorba’s in Clinton, where they would meet for dinner and to swap stories.
“Those evenings were most enjoyable,” Jean said. “Those were pleasant times for us. I’ll miss that terribly. Lois was such a joyful person to be around. That’s the way she’ll be remembered by all that knew her.”
Lois and her husband, both of whom had served as missionaries to Africa for nearly 50 years before returning stateside as “missionaries in residence” at Presbyterian College in Clinton, were in Kenya attending a family reunion.
The couple, who served in the Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, were among the founders of the Nile Theological College — a Presbyterian seminary — in Khartoum, Sudan. Zelda White, Bill and Lois’ daughter, is the wife of Craig White, an employee at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
A memorial service for Lois Anderson was held at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Nairobi.
She was buried at St. Paul’s Seminary in Limuru, Kenya, an area where she and her husband once lived and worked.
“You can’t ask why because there are no answers,” Jean said. “My prayer is that somehow something good comes of this, because God uses everything.”
As news of the tragedy quickly spread, e-mails offering condolences poured in from across the world from the people who were touched by “Mama Lois.”

Region champs

Lady Vikes grab III-AA title

February 3, 2007

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

The seniors for the Emerald High School girls basketball team wanted to make senior night even more special than usual. The Lady Vikings seniors, led by 17 points and 14 rebounds from Brittany Connor, poured in 42 points to claim their second-straight Region III-AA title with a 59-44 win over Mid-Carolina Friday night at home.
“I’m glad everybody stepped up tonight,” Connor said. “At the beginning of the season, it was just me and Anicia (Dotson) scoring. Now, everybody’s starting to contribute.”
Senior Shenna Clark scored all of her 10 points in the second half and also grabbed 11 rebounds. Fellow seniors Dede Carter and Katie Cook added six points apiece, while freshman Dotson tossed in 13 points and nine boards off the bench. The game, however, wasn’t without controversy.
Mid-Carolina’s Courtney Sims picked up her fifth foul on a charging call inside the game’s final minute. Sims, who finished with 14 points, became the fourth Lady Rebel to foul out, leaving coach Tiffany Johnson only four remaining players.
Johnson refused to send her team back on the court down a man.
Officials conferred and called the game with the score at 59-44 and 45.9 seconds remaining on the clock, giving Emerald its eight straight region win in as many tries.
“Shenna Clark did a super job inside and Brittany stepped it up tonight and was really aggressive on the boards,” Emerald coach Anarie Duckett said. “We clinched first place in the region. So, we’ll be at home for two games if we win the first one. You don’t know who you’re going to play, but it’s always better to play at home.”
Connor was the Lady Vikings’ focal point in the first half. The senior scored 13 of her team’s 28 first-half points, including eight of Emerald’s first 12.
A Connor three-point play, off a converted 6-footer and the subsequent free throw, was a part of Emerald’s 9-1 run to close out the first quarter with a 16-8 lead.
“I was very focused because I was nervous coming in,” Connor said.
The Lady Vikings pushed that first-quarter lead to 10 when Dotson knocked down a foul-line jumper off a pass from Connor to make it 24-14 with 2:29 left in the first half.
Emerald took a nine-point advantage into the break. The lead grew to 13 two separate times in the third quarter.
The Lady Vikings managed only two field goals in the fourth, but were able to maintain their comfortable lead behind 11-of-19 shooting from the foul line. MID-CAROLINA (44) Kee-Kee Metts 16, Courtney Sims 14, Heller 6, Beasley 4, Gallman 2, Fulmer 2. EMERALD (59) Brittany 17, Anicia Dotson 13, Shenna Clark 10, Carter 6, Cook 6, Riley 3, Green 3, Baggett 1, Bailey, Smith. Mid-Carolina 8 11 14 11—44 Emerald 16 12 16 15—59 3-point goals — Mid-Carolina 2 (Metts), Emerald 2 (Connor). Fouled out — Sims, Gallman, Heller, Beasley (M-C). Technicals — None. Records: Emerald (8-0 Region III-AA), Mid-Carolina (6-2).

EHS has success on senior night

February 3, 2007

By RON COX
Index-Journal sports editor

Senior Kadarron Anderson had 20 points and 11 rebounds and sophomore Dee Parks chipped in 15 points off the bench to lead the Emerald High School boys basketball team to a 64-48 victory over Mid-Carolina Friday night on senior night at Emerald.
Anderson and Parks combined for half of the Vikings’ points on a 20-3 run midway through the second half that saw Emerald turn a seven-point deficit to a 44-34 commanding lead with 7 minutes, 30 seconds remaining.
The win assures the Vikings a playoff spot, and the team has Tuesday’s game at Saluda and Thursday’s regular season finale at home against Ninety Six to try to move from third to second, and a home playoff game.
“Once we started running that 50 (press) and getting some turnovers, really Kadarron turned it on and we owned the boards during that run,” Emerald coach Robin Scott said. “I would bet they didn’t have that many rebounds during that stretch.
“We still have a chance to play for second place. This was a good game against a team that’s getting some confidence.”
The Vikings (5-3 Region III-AA) got scoring from all nine players that took the court, including 22 off the bench.
Mid-Carolina didn’t spread the wealth as much. Jordan Harmon, a 6-foot-6 freshman, led the Rebels in scoring with 26 points before fouling out with 2:39 remaining and Mid-Carolina down 59-46.
Only five other Rebels scored, led by starting guard Calvin Herbert with seven.
Harmon, who put on a dunk-fest for the Emerald faithful, scored 18 points in the first half, leading the Rebels to a 24-all tie at the half.
Mid-Carolina opened the third quarter with seven straight points, capped by a 3-pointer from Ethan Manning to give the team its largest lead at 31-24 with 5:48 left in the quarter.
But that’s when Emerald, which had been scoreless in the second half, woke up. Trey Woolridge put back his own miss for two of his seven points to start the big run.
Parks closed out the third quarter with by knifing into the lane around Rebel defenders for an easy layup, giving the Vikings a 40-34 lead heading into the final quarter.
Emerald’s Alex Robinson and Parks opened the fourth with back-to-back buckets to put the Vikings up by 10 with 7:30 remaining.
“Dee’s a sparkplug,” Scott said. “He could probably start for us, but he does such a good job off the bench. He really took it to the hole tonight.”
Emerald then outscored Mid-Carolina 20-14 the rest of the way.

Chiefs clinch region

February 3, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

CALHOUN FALLS — The Region I-A championship is in the bag following the McCormick Chiefs 51-39 win over the Calhoun Falls Blue Flashes Friday night.
The Blue Flashes were still riding high following an upset victory over the Dixie Hornets Tuesday, but poor shooting at the free-throw line, coupled with an inability to box out sealed their fate.
Raynard Jackson gave the Chiefs (19-3 overall, 9-0 region) a one-point lead (4-3) when he hit a short jumper at the 4-minute, 41-second mark in the first quarter.
The 6-foot-5 Jackson was a problem for most of the night as he went over the Blue Flashes’ (7-10, 3-6) smaller defenders for a game-high 15 points.
“When you’re rivals, you throw the records out the window because they (Blue Flashes) played hard tonight,” Chiefs coach Elmer Williams said. “I give them credit. When you play a big rivalry like this and get a win, that’s gravy.”
The Chiefs used a 12-2 run to take an 18-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The run was highlighted by a two-handed dunk by Brandon Cisco, who finished with 11 points, and capped off by a William Peterson 3-pointer from the McCormick County line at the buzzer.
Both teams went scoreless from the field in the second quarter until Cisco’s lay-up with 4:06 remaining, giving the Chiefs a 22-9 lead.
The lead increased to 25-13 when Jackson lifted off for a slam with 1:09 remaining in the first half, making up for a botched attempt earlier in the quarter.
“We tried to get inside to him early on,” Williams said. “He did a good job.”
The Chiefs led 25-13 at the end of the first half.
The Blue Flashes started the second half with a 6-2 run, cutting the Chiefs lead to 27-19, prompting a timeout by coach Elmer Williams with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter.
The Blue Flashes were able to cut the lead to six points (31-25) but the Chiefs responded, pushing the lead back to 10 points with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Jackson extended the lead to 37-25 after converting two free-throws but the Blue Flashes answered on the ensuing possession with a shot in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
The score may have been closer but the Blue Flashes struggled from the free-throw line missing 14 free-throws in the game while the Chiefs only missed six.
Justin Gilchrist’s lay-in finally cut the Chiefs lead to single digits, 39-30 with less than six minutes remaining in the game.
“They’re just too quick for us. I thought we had a chance but we just threw the ball away too much,” Blue Flashes coach Nield Gordon said. “If we’d have made some free-throws then we would have been right in the game.”
The Blue Flashes then watched as the Chiefs continued to run their offense extending their lead to 50-37 following two free-throws by Darius Bussey with 2:14 remaining in the game, wrapping up the region title.

Lady Flashes dominate Lady Chiefs

February 3, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

CALHOUN FALLS — It was a packed gym Friday night for the Calhoun Falls Lady Blue Flashes basketball game against the McCormick Lady Chiefs.
The second meeting between the McCormick and Calhoun Falls was no different from the first as the Lady Blue Flashes routed the Lady Chiefs, 77-28, led by Brittany Obot’s game-high 22 points, hot shooting from behind the arc and solid defense.
The first meeting between the two teams went in favor of the Lady Blue Flashes, 50-17, who dominated for almost the entire game.
“They just do what they always do. Just defense,” Lady Blue Flashes coach Risha Bomar said. “Considering that McCormick is our biggest rivalry, she (Obot) stepped her game up for us tonight.”
Lateidra Mims led the Lady Chiefs with 8 points.
Adrianna Tatum put the Lady Blue Flashes (11-4 overall, 8-1 Region I-A ) on the board with a 3-pointer for an early 3-0 lead. Tatum finished the game with 16 points, including four 3-pointers.
Obot pushed the lead to 5-0 after grabbing a rebound and going back up for an easy 2 points.
At the 6 minute, 7 second mark, Obot drove inside for a lay-in, giving Bomar’s squad a 7-2 lead in the opening quarter.
Obot continued to have hot hands when she drained her second 3-pointer in the first quarter at the 3:16 mark, followed by a jumper as she was falling away from the basket giving coach Risha Bomar’s team a 16-3 lead.
The Lady Chiefs (9-13, 5-4) trailed 19-5 at the 2:01 mark before closing the quarter with a 9-3 run.
Midway through the second quarter, the Lady Blue Flashes lead was 28-16, thanks to a short jumper by Cassandra Roundtree at the 4:23 mark.
Lady Chiefs coach George Edwards called a timeout at the 3:34 mark after Tatum hit her second 3-pointer of the first half, giving the Lady Blue Flashes a 33-16 lead.
The Lady Blue Flashes led 38-22 at halftime thanks to a 16-8 second quarter.
“At halftime, we were in good shape and I thought that we could catch them,” Edwards said. “We were playing OK. Then we got out and did the same thing that we did at McCormick. They let the crowd get to them and no hustle.”
Things didn’t get any better in the second half as the Lady Blue Flashes were in total control midway through the third quarter.
A 3-pointer by Katerra Baskin gave the Lady Blue Flashes a 53-22 lead with less than 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Tatum’s 3-pointer in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter gave the Lady Blue Flashes a 40-point lead (62-22) and the outcome was never in doubt.

Obituaries

Irene Frazier

WARE SHOALS — Lily Irene Jackson Frazier, 93, of 109 W. Main St. Extension, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2007 at her home.
She was born in Greenwood County, SC, and was a member of Big Bethel Methodist Church in Ware Shoals.
She was the widow of David Frazier and the daughter of the late Jim and Cordelia A. Tolbert Jackson. She was also preceded in death by brothers John, J.T., James, Eugene and Nathaniel Jackson, and sisters, Jannie Lou Mitchell and Jessie Mae Wilson.
Survivors: sister, Annie Lee Boyd, Cheraw, SC; nieces and nephews.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Big Bethel Methodist Church, by the Revs. Mack Hill and John Booker. Burial is in Pine Grove AME Church Cemetery, Hodges, SC. The body is at Robinson-Walker Funeral Service and will be on view Saturday beginning at noon, and will be placed in the church Sunday at 1:30.
The family is at the home of her nephew, James Wilson, 2810 Nations Road, Ware Shoals.
Robinson-Walker Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Lavinia McDill

DUE WEST — Lavinia Gossett McDill, 83, resident of 25 Abbeville St., Due West, SC, widow of John W. McDill, Sr, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 at National Health Care in Greenwood, SC.
Born in Williamston, SC, she was the daughter of the late Paul Henry and Julia Pinckney Gossett and was a graduate of Erskine College. Mrs. McDill was Librarian for Dixie High School and was a former employee of the Abbeville County Library System. She was also a member of the Due West ARP Church.
Surviving Mrs. McDill are her son and daughter-in law, John W. McDill, Jr. and Eugenia G. McDill and grandchildren, Matthew and Macie McDill, all of Shoals Junction. She is also survived by her sister, Julia Mize of Williamston, SC. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Suzzanne Evans.
Graveside services will be conducted at the Due West ARP Church Cemetery at 3 on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, by Rev. Calvin Draffin. The family will receive friends prior to the service at 2 in the church fellowship hall.
Memorials may be made to Due West ARP Church, PO Box 397, Due West, SC 29639 or to Greenville Presbyterian Church, PO Box 157, Donalds, SC 29638.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.chandlerjacksonfh.com. The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC is in charge of arrangements.

Louise Parkman

Myrtle Louise Davenport Parkman, 83, of 728 Holloway Street, wife of Marvin Parkman, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 at Hospice House.
Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late James Clifton and Mary Harper Davenport. She was a member of Fraser Presbyterian Church.
Surviving is her husband of the home and her sister, Helen Burke of Lincolnton, GA.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. David Thomasson and the Rev. G. Thomas Cartledge officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Wash, Larry Wash, George “Chuck” Wells, Robbie Parkman, Hilton Dodgen Jr. and Bill Burke.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
The family is at the home of her sister-in-law, Margie Wash, 3616 Highway 25 South.
It is requested that flowers be omitted and memorials made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Alice L. Randall

Alice L. Randall, 79, of 103 Wisteria Court, Hampton Trace, widow of Homer Randall, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 at her home.
Born in Greer, she was a daughter of the late William and Alice Davenport Shipes. She was retired from Greenwood Mills, Adams Plant and was a US Women’s Army Corps veteran of World War II. She was a member of Coronaca Baptist Church and the Sims Bible Class.
Surviving are two daughters, Deborah Diane Ek of Ninety Six and Alice Elizabeth “Beth” Harris of Waterloo; two sons, Marion Homer Randall of Saluda and Roland Brooks Randall of Greenwood; a niece, raised in the home, Sharon Wren of Waterloo; a brother, Johnny Shipes of Asheville, NC; six grandchildren, Matt Randall, Kayne Randall, Travis Randall, Tripp Goff, John Ek and Deleigh Goff; three step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Coronaca Baptist Church, with the Rev. Drew Gunter and the Rev. Matt Martin officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Matt Randall, Kayne Randall, Tripp Goff, Tanner Goff, Rodney Pilgrim, Scott Pilgrim and John Ek. Honorary escort will be members of the Sims Bible Class of Coronaca Baptist Church, along with Pat and Ron Gurney, Jimmy and Dewette Gable and Ruby Boone.
The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Sarah E. Rider

Sarah E. Rider, 67, of 112-A Maplewood Court, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007 at her home.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late Cornelius Rider and Geneva Perrin Rider. She retired from Self Memorial Hospital.
She is survived by a son, Byron Rider of the home.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Rider family.

Ruby Smith Ross

SENECA — Ruby Smith Ross, 85, of 1130 Shiloh Road, Seneca, S.C., died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 at Oconee Memorial Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Rev. W. Frank and Lalla Jones Smith, and was the wife of the late William Carl Ross. She was also preceded in death by a son, Louis Laverne Ross, three brothers and one sister. She is survived by two sons, Terry Ross of Bethlehem, GA., LaVante Ross of Seneca, S.C., a daughter, Mitzi Ross Davis of Spartanburg, S.C., a sister, Billie Smith Bennett of Florence, S.C., her stepmother, Louise Smith Durham of Laurens, S.C., four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Tri-County Worship Center, with the Rev. Tracy Hamilton and Rev. Fred Hamilton officiating. Burial will follow in the Edgewood Cemetery in Greenwood, S.C. The family will receive friends Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and will be at the home of LaVante Ross, 1134 Shiloh Road, Seneca, S.C., at other times.
Brown-Oglesby Funeral Home of Seneca, S.C., is in charge of arrangements.

Opinion

When will we ever learn where the killing began?

February 3, 2007

“As long as the United States is bombing and killing Muslims” Americans will have no peace. That’s what a Muslim cleric in the audience told an American diplomat who went to the Middle East to try to bridge the differences through face-to-face diplomacy.
What that means, of course, is they believe it’s right for Muslim extremists/terrorists to bomb and kill us but it’s wrong if we fight back. They started bombing and killing long before we ever went to Iraq. In fact, they started it long before the airliners were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center Towers on 9/11.

U. S. MARINE BARRACKS WERE were bombed, killing many. An American Navy ship was bombed, killing many. There have been other incidents where Americans were the victims. How about the Embassy building in Kenya, for example. Many were killed.
Long before all of these attacks, though, radical Muslims in Iran took over our Embassy and kept Americans hostage for many months.
The evidence is all there, to be sure. Yet there are a lot of Americans who want to make it appear that we initiated the violence and we “deserve” the negative consequences.
Lyrics in an old Bob Dylan anti-war song ask the question, “When will they ever learn...?” When will all of us learn that we are at war and have been for decades? The history of anti-American violence leaves no doubt.

IT’S SIMPLE. THEY HATE US. They want to kill us. It hasn’t been long since a Muslim couple on a British airliner was discovered smuggling explosives on board in their months’ old baby’s milk bottle. They were set to blow up the plane and kill all aboard, including themselves and their infant child.
If anyone has any doubts about what kind of mentality we’re dealing with, that should erase them. The sad thing is, though, there are too many Americans who will find excuses for that mentality and refuse to believe the depth of the hostile anti-American attitudes that motivate the killing of innocent people.