Thanks for the ping, BG.
I find myself so conflicted on this issue. On the one hand, I call this a holy war and that term encompasses every Islamic citizen alive. On the other, I see the people of Iraq discovering freedom and I wonder if it's possible to spread that concept.
I think it may be too early to tell....
I don't think they value freedom the same way as we. Rather, I tend to think that the ideas of political, economic and religious freedom are not so important.
Their religion IS their politics. And as far as economic freedom, I have heard a number of folks who have been to Arabia. From what they tell me, a handshake from an Arab is just about worthless.
We've always heard about the "cunning" of an Arab trader.