Florida Air Base Attacked

(Homestead, Florida) A 22-year-old mentally-ill math teacher at Miami Central High School, Tahmeed Ahmad, was arrested by federal authorities after attacking Homestead Air Reserve Base guards with butcher knives and vodka bottles while yelling "Death to America" and "I want to kill soldiers."

Strangely, despite his rather aggressive and unfriendly actions, Ahmad is not considered to be a terrorist.

Rather, the Miami Central High School math teacher wanted to "commit suicide by cop" when he attacked military policemen stationed at the west gate just before midnight Sunday, the FBI said.

Ahmad did not get his wish. One officer fired his handgun at Ahmad. He missed.

"We take security very seriously at the base, but this was quite an unusual event," said Lt. Col. Tom Davis, a base spokesman. "Our security forces are well trained and responded appropriately."

Police quickly arrested Ahmad, 22, whose mother says is mentally ill and had recently been in a mental institution. The FBI charged him Monday with assaulting a U.S. government employee.

It appears that the authorities want to downplay the importance of the incident because poor Ahmad was depressed and sad and has mental problems.

Frankly, I would disagree with that approach. Ahmad is a young man of Arab descent who attacked an American military installation with weapons and explosives and a desire to commit suicide in the process. How's that different from any other terrorist?

The fact that Ahmad was inept in his first attempt at inflicting "Death to America" doesn't mean he should be given another chance. He should be watched closely for a long time and not given an opportunity to demonstrate any newly acquired skills.