CABINET makes difficult decisions, and each has consequences. So as we ponder events in France, we pray they are based on risk profiles — known consequences, unexpected and unintended ones.

Last year we sponsored UN Resolution 2178 on terrorism — though it was not on radar or talk shows here. I felt a chill at the news. We hope this new intifada is in their contingency plan. I also wrote that strange people bearing gifts were in some parishes — Do we have sleeper cells? Terrorists do not obey UN protocol as French Muslim cop Ahmed discovered while wounded on the sidewalk “Do you want to kill me?” The AK-47 answered a double tap with chilling finality. This conflict is not about free speech, but freedom itself, so get ready to fight! The IMF may be the least of our problems in 2015.

Freedom met its match in Paris and democracy was speechless — it was bloody. We compromise, terrorists don’t. Last week a UK Imam said Muslims love Allah so much if you draw cartoons they will act. The host said: “Christians take offence at cartoons too, and use the courts; not an AK-47.” The silence was deafening. True Muslims, like true Christians, are godly; so who does he call fake Muslims (Fakers)? Did parents and Imams not bring them up Muslim?

Europe is in thrall to Fakers. Until the early 20th century, Muslim intifadas and fatwas never crossed the Bosphorus — yes, in the Levant, Asia and Africa. A few rich Muslims lived in Europe, but Britain opened up to immigrants, so poor Muslims came — poverty the incubator of terrorism and conflicts. The unreason of faith was evident with the Salman Rushdie fatwa of 1981; the Brits hid him and did not confront the evil. Freedom retreated and, in 2001, emboldened by the West’s puny response, Fakers struck New York. Yet a big blow against freedom was the politically correct self-censorship of the British. So Fakers silenced good men and made journalists redact their scripts in fear. Then Richard Reid, shoe bomber; Danish cartoonist killed; Dutch film-maker Van Gogh assassinated for his movie on Muslim women; UK trooper Lee Rigby carved up; Canadian guard shot; Boston marathon bombed; and now Charlie Hebdo and the Kosher Market massacre. Freedom is not absolute, and we must cede some to protect all of us as terrorism comes our way.

The shout at all these terrorist murders is “Allahu Akbar!” are they Fakers? They don’t like cartoons that purport to be Muhammad (PBUH) and they kill critics. Cartoons are designed to give offence — politics, the rich, faith, union, Don, evil banker, untouchable and entitled people. If Clovis fails to offend, his cartoon is trash! Freedom to offend is embedded in democracy, so take me to court! Cartoons caricature a feature — face, hair, but can you sketch someone no one has seen? A man purports to draw a cartoon of God; laugh, don’t kill! Allah does miracles, part seas, flies to heaven, answers millions of prayers; is he offended by a sketch in a magazine with 30,000 readers?

Thanks to al-Qaeda and an alleged junkie, pizza delivery guy with an AK-47 they now have millions of readers. Shout praises now. To many Christians the blonde Christ in Adventist books and on barbershop calendars is risible. A Middle East brown man with carpenter’s hands and cracked heels from sandals is authentic, but no one shot painter Harry Anderson for his blue-eyed cartoons. Charlie Hebdo ridiculed the establishment. Their Jesus on the cross and Jerry Springer’s Jesus might be “a bit gay” — offended Christians; no one shot them.

What is the terrorist endgame? They want to make the world a Caliphate (it didn’t work originally). Do Muslims mind? Key nations have sleepers. Does the UN resolution put us in harm’s way? Maybe. We play-off capitalist vs communist for decades, but this is deadly — bombs don’t reason.

We love Voltaire’s “I do not agree with what you have to say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.” He was not Muslim. Lord Carey, former archbishop of Canterbury, says fear of Islam curbs speech like a blasphemy law, so he urges media to write, sketch without fear. Fakers target vulnerable nations to get at the USA. We are one. The Sean Paul concert in the Maldives was not cancelled for business. As the top Caribbean brand, we are a target. Cuba is not in line, as the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and it does not host large groups of Americans on aircraft, land-based, and floating hotels, we do! Terrorists thrive on blood and media, and a Cuban missile-type crisis would make a statement; but, be careful. When the state limits freedom via unjust laws, our society becomes like the Fakers’ — they win! We are not born to fear, so be prepared. Good Muslims must now stand up for freedom.

Last week Boko Haram killed over 2,000 people in Nigeria, and in France al-Qaeda and IS teams killed 17 and dominate media. Nigeria continues to disappoint — large, rich; is it a role model for blacks, Africa? Some moan about Obama, Cameron, Merkel, but did you not say Africa for Africans? Wake up, Africa! We are open, vulnerable, and Caricom/CSME is no help, as members sell citizenship and compromise our security. These are not terrorist targets, as they have no tourist crowds and can’t help us — too far away to hear the blast. We now need a UK-type COBRA team to formulate strategy; anti-terrorism laws with equalities and rights codicil; an anti-terrorist strike force with mental bandwidth, muscle, technology. We were sucked into Resolution 2178, but it was the right thing to do. We need national mobilisation for defence so “Arise Commander in Chief PS-M!” Start the reducation campaign, build a robust intelligence infrastructure and kit with night vision CCTV mini-helicopter/drones with directional microphones — beg Uncle Obama. We need eyes and ears to remotely monitor embassies, woodlands, urban areas, tourist venues, air and sea ports; and lock the Caricom “passport for cash” back door. We say, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. Life is about to get harder. Be not afraid, we will build our land and defend it. Je suis Jamaica!

Franklin Johnston is a strategist, project manager and advises the minister of education. franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com