CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: The reason this idea of heightened patrols in Muslim areas is a terrible mistake. The United States has the most successful assimilation, integration of Muslim population of any country in the West. It's not even close. The reason Europe is in trouble, it has these enclaves where the police either can't go or won't go. That doesn't exist here, and the last thing that we should do is to alienate the Muslims by having heightened patrols in their streets. Yes, you want to have contacts with mosques. You want to know what's happening inside, but you are not going to pick anything up by having police cars patrolling the streets. It's not going to do it. It's the wrong way to go about it.

BRET BAIER (HOST): OK, but you acknowledge the accusations, at least, that radicalization is happening inside our country in some mosques in some Muslim areas?

KRAUTHAMMER: There's no question it's happening, it's happened. Anwar al-Awlaki was actually a preacher in a Virginia mosque. There is no question. But the way to go after it is not to have police cars and military jeeps in the streets of the neighborhoods. It's to develop more intimate relationship with the community leaders and with the mullahs.

BAIER: OK, but that could be a matter of semantics to what Ted Cruz was saying too.

Previously:

Guthrie Rebukes Cruz Over Call For Muslim Surveillance

Ted Cruz's “Blatantly Unconstitutional” Anti-Muslim Proposal Condemned

Joe Scarborough Slams Ted Cruz For Calling For Increased Policing Of Muslim Communities