[Robert Teesdale]

obsession with "democra-ceeeeeeeey!!!!!!!!!" runs somewhat counter to what a Conservative should stand for.

I must disagree. You are insinuating that freedom and the rights of Man are on some level contradictive to the principles of conservatism.

I also think that Bush's political correctness ("a religion of peace"), coupled with the U.S.'s unwillingness to stand up to the devil that is the House of Saud and the gateway to hell that is Mecca, have caused us to underestimate what we're dealing with.

Almost, but not quite. I think this is affecting our actions, not our perceptions. Which is an equally large problem, considering the risk and threat that the House of Saud and their entire rotten theocratic principles represent.

Not to mention, of course, their unfortunate stranglehold on a large portion of an essential strategic resource.

At least Bush is flexing, even if he's flexing the wrong muscle. The Hysteric Left would have us open up our borders, pander to the Islamists, and "just try to get along" with people who hold 500-year-old grudges against our civilization.

True enough. The Left espouses cultural suicide. Which is unsurprising, considering that cultural identity has been the largest stumbling block to the global implementation of Marxism.

[MegaSilver]

I must disagree. You are insinuating that freedom and the rights of Man are on some level contradictive to the principles of conservatism.

On the contrary, I am insinuating that "democracy" is on many levels contradictive to freedom, natural rights, and Conservatism. A democracy may well look like a free society for quite some time, but ultimately, it collapses. Why? First, people discover that they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury. Second, large democracies are just plain chaotic. Best go with a constitutional republic or constitutional parliamentary monarchy. The key is to clearly define the power of the centralized power and make the system gradually more democratic as you get more local.

Not to mention, of course, their unfortunate stranglehold on a large portion of an essential strategic resource.

If people would only get over their hangups about nuclear energy, it might not be essential for too much longer.