I am not calling for a war against Islam.
Naturally, this is made easier by being able to portray the Intifada against Israel as being somehow seperate from the larger war on terror worldwide...and this distinction understandably chaps your hide...but this distinction is necessary until we can show the outside world incontravertable evidence that Arafat was either behind 9/11 or is at least allied with al-qaeda (something that I think that we are reasonably close to achieving).
Why do we need to show connection between Arafat and 9/11 or Al Queda? Is this a war on terrorism or a war on just Al Queda or those responsible for 9/11? Is Al Queda the only terror group in the world? Arafat has always been a target even before Osama bin laden ever was. He is a terrorist and this is a war against ALL terrorism. There is nothing more to prove here. This is hypocrisy of the heighest order. Arafat and his terror war have been going on for decades and the US still can't say this? Even after he murders Americans?
Once that point is reached (and that isn't the only way to reach this political point, either), then those already allied with the U.S. will be forced to concede that Israel is correct to apply a terminal military solution to Arafat's vast operations...and moreover, the entire Arab world is going to have to finally concede Israel's right to exist, complete with exchanges of embassies and ambassadors from *all* countries.
Time after time again the Arabs have proven what their intentions are with Israel and yet there isn't enough evidence of their murder? We had Oslo, Wye River, Roadmap and the piling of dead Israelis. If this hasn't changed the outlook on Israel, nothing will change it - even with this new peace adventure. The point you talk about should ahve been reached, even after 9/11/01. And yet the sad nature of events concerning US policy vs. Israel remain.
"He is a terrorist and this is a war against ALL terrorism. There is nothing more to prove here. This is hypocrisy of the heighest order. Arafat and his terror war have been going on for decades and the US still can't say this? Even after he murders Americans?"
Yes, the U.S. could immediately say that Arafat is a terrorist if we want to go ahead with declaring war on all of Islam.
On the other hand, if we want the vast majority of the Islamic world to fight with us against terrorism, if we want the Islamic world to change for the better by finally agreeing to live in peace with Israel, then we are going to have show incontravertable evidence of Arafat getting caught being involved either with 9/11 or with Al-Qaeda today.
And frankly, I think that we are close to that point of being able to show that Arafat is dirty, even to a very skeptical Islamic world.
In the meantime, withdrawing from Gaza is yet one more way that Sharon and Bush are boxing the terrorists in (conceptually). I don't expect you to like it. I wouldn't stand for it myself if I lived in Israel, but if Israel plays along smartly for just a tiny bit longer, then this whole plan will overwhelm the terrorists. They are boxed in. They simply have no way to stop their own defeat now.