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"ut for someone who has lived in the Middle East for 20+ yrs"

Well, since you've lived in the area and (presumably) have picked up a sense of how things work over there, I've a mildly off-topic question for you. Would the Arabs have held us in any higher regard if we'd bombed the hell out of Fallujah from 30,000 ft? I suspect they would not, simply because dropping bombs from above shows technology at work, rather than the strength of our people. Also, would it have made a significant difference in how we were viewed if we'd done something more 'hands-on', such as seal off Fallujah and send in massive numbers of troops, tanks, and armoured vehicles supported by Spectres and helicopters in order to completely dismantle the resistance there? I've been thinking this would make for a drastic difference in how we were regarded, but I'm certainly not an expert in how things work over there.

I know you can't speak for everybody, but with what you know of the culture from your time spent there, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

NJ_gent:

I don't think that it really makes a difference how we get it done. Sure, they will moan and complain regardless, but will quickly subside. People in that region forget details rather quickly and remember the overall outcome only. What we are doing now is only fueling their belief that America can be beat. You see, Middle Easterners have a little bit of a chip on their shoulders because their societies have not progressed with the Western societies. They realize they cannot beat the US, but to bloody its nose would be considered a HUGE victory for all muslim countries. The US cannot allow this ball to get rolling. The ME will continue to be a giant headache for the US. My prediction is that within 15yrs, the ME conflict will come to a cataclysmic finale. And I believe that nuclear weapons will definately be involved. I do not beleive we can head this off. The PC global crowd will not allow this to happen. It will continue in the direction it is in until many thousands are killed. The radical islamists, backed by the overwhelming muslim masses--overseas and within the Us--will have their day. No doubt about it.