Jihad is breathing down the West's neck - today's edition

A bracing message from NATO's commander:

Violent extremists, criminals and foreign fighters are part of the daily refugee flow into Europe, the top NATO commander in Europe told lawmakers, "masking the movement" of these dangerous elements and heightening the potential for an attack.

In testimony Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove said the Islamic State is "spreading like a cancer" within this mix, "taking advantage of paths of least resistance, threatening European nations" and the United States.

Breedlove later told reporters that he has asked for more U.S. forces to be permanently based in Europe, which is facing threats from a more aggressive Russia as well as the Islamic State group.

Seriousness, a virtue currently in short supply among those vying for leadership positions throughout Christendom, must be insisted on.