[RightWhale]

Zubrin's reasoning goes something like this: the youth of impoverished regions such as Palestine will be aware of the huge accomplishments involved in putting men on Mars. They will look around their own neighborhood and make comparisons. 'Hmm, the Americans are on Mars, and we are still having trouble getting water out of our plumbing. We have a great system full of words and no accomplishments, America is doing all these astounding things. Maybe we should re-evaluate who is telling us the straight story.'

The youth of the Middle East would cease to listen to their dead-end militant leaders and join civilization. It's how the war on terrorists will ultimately be won. Mars could do it, be the winning card.

[My2Cents]

With all due respect, I think you're reading too much into the author's comment. While the case for going to Mars is interesting, if we want to convince the Arabs that Western techology far outpaces their own sad capabilities, there is enough evidence of this already without going to Mars. We went to the moon. Did that impress the Muslims?

[Grando Calrissian]

The youth of the Middle East would cease to listen to their dead-end militant leaders and join civilization. It's how the war on terrorists will ultimately be won. Mars could do it, be the winning card.

Unfortunately, the militant leaders would just tell the youth that the fuel to launch the Americans to Mars is made from the blood of Arabs.