Most people are familiar with the oath physicians take: First, do no harm. Now, because of terrorist activity in England, we have a sobering warning about the conduct of some medical personnel: “Those who cure you are going to kill you.”

A British priest says the latter warning was made to him in Jordan by an alleged al-Qaida chief months before the recent failed car bombings in London and Glasgow. Security officials have been unable to verify the approach, but it certainly is something to think about in view of what has happened.

Canon Andrew White, a senior Anglican priest who works in Baghdad, said he met the man privately with a translator after holding talks with Sunni Muslim tribal and religious leaders April 18 in Jordan. He says he meets regularly with extremists in an effort to calm Iraq’s sectarian violence. White said the man, an educated Iraqi in his 40s and dressed in Western clothing, warned of attacks on Britain and the United States.

“It was like meeting with the devil,” White told the Associated Press. “He talked of destroying Britain and the United States and said, ‘Those who cure you are going to kill you.'”

Now we learn that six physicians are among the eight suspects detained in the recent failed attacks in Britain. Their status tends to make it easier for them to move about without scrutiny, and the evidence is that some of them may use that to a nefarious advantage.

The eight suspects include one doctor from Iraq, two from India, one from Lebanon and a doctor and his medical assistant from Jordan. Another doctor and a medical student are thought to be from the Middle East, possibly Saudi Arabia.

We are constantly reminded that the current “war” against extremism increasingly is fought without guidelines. We are dealing with hateful, vicious and unprincipled people who for whatever reason believe we need to be eliminated. Now comes the “cure and kill” warning.

So-called moderate Islamists and Muslims have not indicated they have a handle on what some of their people are doing or intend to do, and intelligence agencies are unable to push down every lump in the rug of hostile society. Many “moderates” fear for their safety and that of their families if they become active in the effort to calm hostilities.

What lies ahead is a long, deadly and frustrating ordeal for people who desire and pursue peace and justice. More and more they are realizing how many of our enemies have not the slightest idea about reasonable ways to achieve those goals.