[Terpfen]

I'm not understating the argument at all. Iraq is not a historically unique situation, the Baathists are not a historically unique political party. We're not discussing the nature of Islam, we're discussing a comparison made by the Secretary of Defense--one that is correct.

As far as waiting goes, I wouldn't classify what we're doing as waiting. We are training the Iraqi army, rooting out terrorists and their caches, and changing the geopolitical climate of the middle east. All of that requires a substantial amount of effort, not waiting.

[starbase]

Ah now I understand:

We're not discussing the nature of Islam

In my opinion, the nature of Islam is the root issue in all of this, and not just its nature, but the length of time it has been the sole cultural force in that area, but that's just my opinion and maybe it's not correct.

As far as waiting goes, I wouldn't classify what we're doing as waiting. We are training the Iraqi army, rooting out terrorists and their caches, and changing the geopolitical climate of the middle east. All of that requires a substantial amount of effort, not waiting.

Yes, that's a fair distinction. "Waiting" is not the right word, we're doing many things. But whether anything we do will "change the geopolitical climate of the middle east" is the big question. History implies the negative. But I do hope you are correct.

I personally don't think we can teach this old dog new tricks.