[Dazed_Catt]

With all due respect, this is wishful thinking. Violence and intolerance is so ingrained with these people I doubt serious change will ever happen.

When you wage war against humanity for centuries without end, how can change ever happen?

[Vince Ferrer]

This is true, although I think there is more to this story. Right after the World Trade Center was destroyed, the world faced a stark choice. (Osama's strong horse analogy)

Bush and the US chose not to fold up, but to fight back and win. Much of the middle east chose to stay on the side of civilization, even opening up more. Al-Queda in 2001 had a semi realistic chance of toppling some Arab governments, but it doesn't now.

There is a massive amount of development going on in the middle east right now, which could only be happening if there was confidence in the direction the middle east is going. It is not only due to the price of oil. This confidence comes from the actual success of the war in bringing stability to the region.

[river rat]

Nah, they’re just responding to getting their asses kicked every time they attempt to fight an armed opponent.

[enduserindy]

8 freaking years to late for me to care. What’s he want a cookie badge?