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Good observations, all. Another major difference between the World War II era Japanese and Islamic fundentalists in the concept of on (gratitude) and giri (duty).

America's help rebuilding after World War II has created our most reliable ally in Asia. The Japanese do a lot of things for America out of on and giri.

Contrast that to the Muslim Fundy concept, with just a couple of examples

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait literally saved Iraq's bacon by pumping in crucial financing during the Iran-Iraq war. Three years after the war ended in a stalemate, Iraq invaded.
In the 1967 war, Israel kicked ass so bad, most of the Pallies in the West Bank and Gaza were packing up to move out. Israel, wanting to be loved, had Moyshe Dayan tell them they could remain if they would refrain from attacks on Israel. This lasted a whole five years.
Another big difference is that Japanese value education and are quite capable of thinking for themselves. There was a substantial underground writer's movement during the war. The fundies, on the other hand, seem to wear ignorance as a badge of pride. Pakistan and India were roughly equal in educational and economic achievement until the fundies took over. Now, India is years ahead and moving forward while Pakitstan continues to regress. The Taliban's Omar is literate only insofar as being able to write his name. Ayatollah Kohlmeni wasn't much better, despite years of exile in France and access to some of the best universities in the world. Then there was Mohammed himself. Every chapter of the Koran begins with the initial of the scribe who wrote for him.

Along the same vein as what you wrote:

Mohammed used the trick of a temporary truce (permitted in Islam) to make a treaty called the Hudaibiya Treaty with the Jewish Koraish tribe. But, in 628 C.E. at the Khaidar Oasis, Mohammed killed them. Arafat often claims that the Oslo Treaty is similar to the Hudaibiya Treaty which Mohammed violated with impunity when he was militarily stronger.

Yea, we can do business with these people.

Concur.

I think we may be one of the most paridoxical generations ever.

I believe Islam will become more horrible before it is neutralized terminally. . . . only to be followed by something more horrible. . . .

But THAT will be followed by the Prince of Peace. . . the best of times and the worst of times. . . indeed, even the Bible says the world will undergo a time worse than any other time past or future. . . . followed by perfect Peace.

I suppose I should be honored as well as humbled to be alive now--humbled I am--but I'd usually just as soon trade any honor for the next/earliest elevator UP!