[Santiago de la Vega]

Thanks for the kind response.

Of course, you're right. I inadvertently left out the role played by the full range of military options.

In addition, I ignored the role played in military options by the other key cabinet departments.

As you note, there is more to ending terrorism than killing terrorists. The flow of funds from the petrocrats to the fanatics who are killing our soldiers and citizens can only be stopped by a concerted effort by State, Commerce, and Treasury. We've seen a little of this action, but not enough in my mind.

The crazed ideology of the jihadis will have a lot less effect, and be easier to eradicate, if they don't have the flood of money supplied by the house of Saud.

It's about time to redistribute the wealth of the Arabian peninsula to the poor nations surrounding it, and send the bogus princelings to the hell they so richly deserve.

[68skylark]

I didn't think about the roles played by State, Commerce, Treasury, etc in the war on terrorism, but you're right -- this war should be a "full court press" with everyone doing their part of the overall job. The general public has roles they can play as well.

I'm new to an Army Civil Affairs unit, so I'm trying to learn all I can about Special Operations. It's an extremely impressive organization, but also prone to misunderstandings about the missions. And I've got a nagging feeling that as impressive as the organization really is, we could use new ideas. We need new ways to reach out to foreign populations and help them believe in democracy & good, limited government -- and the other core values that have made this country so exceptional.