It was a bizarre coincidence that on July 4th , while Americans were exploding fireworks around the country, two rogue regimes were firing military rockets. The missiles fired by North Korea and Hamas underscore the reality that we have now entered the age of missile terror. Following the events of 9/11 the United States and other nations around the world have been concerned with suicide bombers in one form or another and bombs placed on trains at hotel resorts and on airplanes, among other places. The risk of terror has escalated. Now we have to worry about the missile launched from a neighboring country, which is far harder to detect and to prevent.

In the Middle East, the Hamas terrorist regime launched a rocket from Gaza that reached six miles into Israel -- farther than any previous Palestinian rockets. The rocket hit an empty high school in Ashkelon and there were no casualties. However, this was far more serious than the home made rockets that Palestinian terrorists have been firing a short distance into Israel ever since the Hamas regime took power. Israeli Prime Minister Olmert called it an “escalation of unprecedented gravity in the campaign of terror waged by Hamas.” Olmert was precisely correct. The current Israeli incursion into Gaza may have been precipitated by the kidnapping of an Israeli solider, Corporal Shalit. However, the real underlying cause was the daily launching of rockets from Gaza into Israel. No nation can tolerate that type of violation of its security.

Try to imagine what the reaction of the United States would be if terrorists operating from Mexico began firing rockets into the San Diego area on a daily basis. Our response would be immediate and forceful. But at the end of the day, if terrorists were utilizing mobile launchers, the United States would have a difficult job in stopping these rockets without some assistance from the Mexican government.

This brings us to North Korea. The rogue regime there fired six missiles over the Sea of Japan. Several of them landed less than 400 miles from the Japanese coast. Tokyo was understandably outraged. At the same time, the North Koreans attempted a launch of a long-range intercontinental missile of the type being developed to pose a threat to the United States. Fortunately, that intercontinental missile failed shortly after it was launched.

There is no hint that the rocket's designers in North Korea will abandon their efforts. Rather it is likely that they will go back to the drawing board to make changes in a program whose objective is to reach Alaska or the west coast of the United States.

Serious consideration was given to attacking this missile on its launch pad before it was test fired. In view of the technical failure of the launch, the United States' decision not to act appears justified. However it is likely that in a matter of weeks or perhaps months the technical deficiencies will be solved. Do we dare wait that long? Do we dare place the West Coast of the United States in the same position of vulnerability to rocket fire as Southern Israel is?

In an attempt to avoid this possibility, we have now commenced a new diplomatic effort involving Japan and China, which is North Korea's benefactor, and the United Nations. Only an unrealistic optimist would believe that this effort has any chance of succeeding with the intransigent regime in North Korea. Sooner or later, the United States will have to act militarily to prevent this threat from becoming full blown. We may not be able to control the timing of a military response. Japan may strike first, even at the risk of provoking a larger conflict with China.

In the meantime, undoubtedly the events of July 4 have been observed by Al Qaeda and other Muslim fundamental terrorist organizations planning attacks against the United States and western European nations. The lessons of the day are clear. If they obtain missiles and launching equipment and conceal them in a country bordering on the United States or one of the western European countries, they will have an effective terrorist tool that avoids the difficulties of suicide bombings. July 4 was not a good day for those seeking peace and security in the world.