[FreeReign]

you aren't saying, I hope, that if they bring a world war to us, we should continue to pretend they are really just fringe rogues, right?

Correct-o-rooni.

The historic reality of Islam is violent hegemony. Until we face the fact that no Muslim majority has succeeded in protecting what we would call inviolate rights, we won't be able to clearly fight this war. Muslims will have to prove they have grown up, and we can't treat them like grown ups until they start paying the rent, mowing the lawn, and acting, well, like Civilized westerners.

That's what the war in Iarq was about. Similar success in Afghanistan and Lebanon are ocurring. There's still a long way to go.

[farmer18th]

That's what the war in Iarq was about. Similar success in Afghanistan and Lebanon are ocurring. There's still a long way to go.

I hope you'll forgive my skepticism, but a few questions on point:

1. Will we ever have the guts to use the Presidential bully pulpit to ask Saudi Arabia to guarantee religious freedom in its own back yard? Why didn't you include the Saudis along with Syria, by the way?
2. Will we stop all aid to rogue Muslim states until they guarantee civil rights?
3. Will we retain (or take) possession of Iraqi oil reserves in payment for our civilizing mission and not return them until we confirm they have succeeded in their own westernization? (Or do we give them back to the next strong man who can only rule Muslims by tyranizing them, ala Turkey?)
4. Will we _ever_ admit that an unguarded border is far more dangerous than Osama hiding among the Afghani boulders?