"I agree, the real solution is to replace the despots with economic/political systems based on personal property right, free markets and representative goverment, a tall order but necessary to win the war on terror." A "tall order" indeed. Take Iraq for example. The wealth of Iraq is in the oil below. No one has property rights on this land. It always has, and always will belong to the Iraq government. So, from the very onset, of any new Iraq government, no matter what the form, it will be Facists in nature, since the government will own most all the wealth producing property. The corruption will start immediately, with the criminals, opportunists, and power mongers rising to the top of any new government. Saddam came to power this way. The vicious cycle will start all over again.
How the hell do we ever teach these people the concept of property rights and free enterprise? I suggest we never will until all the oil is pumped dry, and they are left with no other choice but to go to work to make a living instead of fighting over their oil money.
I don't think the Japanese had any real concept of private property and free enterprise after WW2, they were still a feudal society. It can happen but it won't be easy, we could fail to 'win the peace'. The risk/reward justifies the attempt.
Appeasment is always doomed to failure. Where American, bring unique value to the equation is our desire to help rather than exploit. This is an instinct that our enemies and most of the world for that matter doesn't understand.
We need to do the right thing here as wekk as in Afganistan and show the Muslim world that there is a better way.
America is the only country in the world that has the moral clarity and faith to make the attempt.