At this point all of the comments on this thread have ranged from flippant to barely hidden genocidal, to down-right ignroant (talking about you NCC-1701).
The dumbest things one can possibly do when facing an enemy are to 1. underestimate him 2. not beleive his resolve is as strong on ones own and 3. not actually try and learn as much about him as possible.
In terms of analysis, our top boys are predicting 20 years of war. That basicially means that the current recuits and their younger brothers will then be too old and worn down to either want to blow themselves up or to teach their children to do the same.
This guy, on the other hand, is talking about 2 and half generations of war. Why is that and could there be merit to it?
I wonder what the predictions were in 1948 for how long it would take for Israel to be accepted in the Middle East? We are now pushing about 60 years of war there.
Any intelligent comments out there?
What was "ignroant" your spelling, about his comments?
Twenty years of war? Fifty? The last time we got into a war with the Muslims it lasted for centuries.
"Any intelligent comments out there?"
This is an emotional topic. Judging intelligent comments is subjective.
First, I'd say, go easy on other posters. When I hear of people who want me dead simply because I exist, it inflames me too. Perhaps some are young and not tempered, that's not always bad.
I have been studying the enemy. I'm convinced this is a war. It's a war just a sure as any war that's ever happened. The difference is, we are at war with a cult, not a nation. A shadowy, ruthless, clever opponent who is not easily vanquished. This is an enemy who is filled with anger, and a hate that we can't understand. They are taught, from the time they are young, that infidels are less than human. It's in their holy book, how can it be wrong?!
This sets them free to kill without remorse. It also fills them with a resolve we don't understand. Most Americans are happy if they have the weekend off, and they can watch the latest reality BS on tv. Many, (most?), Americans have no clue that they are a target of islam.
I blame our leaders for not drawing attention to what is really happening.
There are too many muslims to "kill them all". And, it goes against what we believe to be right. However, we will have to do some things we find distasteful. This is an enemy with a 7th century mindset and access to modern weaponry.
We will have to be vigilant, and prosecute this as a war, not a criminal case. This means all muslims are suspect, just as in World War II all Germans and Japanese were suspect.
We should welcome muslims who assimilate, and deport those who don't. We should be firm, and convince the muslim world that moderation will win favor, and extremism will bring death and destruction to their own house.
Anything less than that, and you may as well start shopping now for your prayer rug and koran.
Thanks for the flame. Not. I guess that's what I get for trying to answer a fellow FReeper's question.
Sign me up for the barely-hidden genocidal. I haven't seen any other solution proposed that has an icecube's chance in Hell of succeeding.