****At this particular point in history the enemy has been defined as Bin Laden's organization which is spread around the world in more than 36 nations according to my best recollection.****
Yes, this is our focal point, however I am convinced that this is just the single step beginning a long journey and that this is also President Bush's belief. OBL is no more than a convienent focus point for the moment. I don't even think we will get him any time soon.
Any nation that aids or abetts terrorism against the US shall be considered a terrorist nation. That's the Bush doctrine. He better stick with it because it is the only way to succeed. Our present actions can only increase the number and severity of the terrorist attacks. Yet what we now do is all that we CAN do untill we can get massive military troop buildups and machinery into place.
Heretofore unknown levels of violence on a scale unimmaginable to all but the most experienced military mind ... must be unleashed on what you call my 'immaginary islamist state'. Where to drop the bombs? Where to invade? Believe me our government operatives know where. Exactly where. I just don't think we as a nation can muster the will and the courage.
Only horrific FORCE will deter these people from their jihad. They are on a holy crusade. If we do not stop them ASAP it will not be just a few 'dirty nukes' or some truck bombs. It will be aerosol burst bio-loaded missiles over European cities and constant terror attacks of every description here in the US.
The world has changed from the horse and buggy mentality to global or worldwide implications. What may not have been dreamed or thought about a hundred years or so ago is now reality. Thus to me we will never go back to the comfort of what we knew even in my beginning years. We as a nation, as a society, as a world will have interactions with each other that can bring almost instant repercussions either positive or negative.
Now are we prepared to deal with that as a nation? I don’t know but as you point out we may not be. We didn’t get where we are overnight and I don’t think we can turn this ship of state around overnight. Thus can we win or survive long enough to be in position to handle the war as you see coming. It is my fervent hope we can.
I see events like this present one unfolding as each group tries to unleash their form of world dominance. The question is can they pull enough groups together to pull it off. I don’t know but I suspect they have differences of opinion within their various factions such that they will not join in a total alliance to dominate.
Things will be forever changed for us. I hope we as a nation can learn to adapt quickly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inviting me to respond.