Friday, November 13, 2015 will be remembered as a day of infamy similar to December 7, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, similar to 9/11 when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center. The vicious attack was not an attack on France; it was an attack on the world and the world should now rally together to defeat Isis, radical Islam and any others who support these extreme acts of violence. Words will not solve this problem, action will. And we should not sit by and wait for the next attack, perhaps on Broadway or Yankee Stadium or anyplace in the US and any civilized nation in the world.

France’s problem is the world’s problem. We are at war and it will take wartime measures to defeat this vile enemy. In absence of a real plan, the ABA supports the following:

1. That a 50 nation coalition be created.

2. That the 50 nations commit to a minimum of 5000 troops (250,000 troops on the ground) or the equivalent in naval and air support.

3. That this 50 nation coalition include countries like Russia, China, Iran and others.

4. That any country not joining the coalition provide financing for 10,000 troops for 30 days.

5. That the coalition agrees to suspend territorial boundries in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya and any countries harboring terrorist groups.

6. That the 50 nation coalition move into these areas for a “clean sweep” of ISIS, Al Queda and other terrorist groups.

7. That the US cut off aid to any nation that does not join the coalition.

8. That the US put tariffs on imports from any nation that does not join the coalition.

The political campaigns in the US are focused on the US economy, on immigration, on taxes, on healthcare. And while these things are important, they pale in comparison to the threat posed by

“bullies parading as terrorists,” shooting and bombing innocent law abiding citizens in countries that have opened their doors to people from the Middle East.

The world has sat by while Isis and others have committed heinous attrocities – plundering, murdering, raping – destroying everything in their path – like it was “someone else’s” problem. It is not someone else’s problem – it is the problem of decent men, women and children everywhere. And it will take tough action to solve this problem.

Are the rights of college students on campus important? Sure. Are gay rights important? Sure. Is Fantasy Football or drugs or clean air or global warming important? Sure. Are the topics dominating Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABA, CBS, NBC News important? Sure. Are the differences between Donald Trump or Ben Carson or Marco Rubio or Jeb Bush or Carly Fiorini or Ted Cruz important? Sure. But they all pale in comparison to this horrible threat of radical Islam. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of France and those who were brutally slain yesteday.

What does this have to do with basketball? Absolutely nothing. But it does have to do with humanity and the ABA is fortunate to have the ability to reach large numbers of people to show our support in the war on terrorism.

Joe Newman