"the depth of the historical (partly mythical?) past of the Arab nations and their neverending aspiration to go back in time. Even the jihadi "speech patterns" in their threats with references to swords and horses, etc. is all of a Saladin era theme. An ancient culture that chooses to live in their own cave of darkness. The good old days, I suppose"
The "good old days" never ended as far as they are concerned. They see the post World War I western colonial intervention into the region after the fall of the Ottomans and the creation of Israel in the 20th century as the vanguard of the assault of the "Jews and Crusaders". They want to convert the region to the view that the 21st century is going "back to the future", and it is the beginning of another centuries-long clash of civilizations. If we give them what they want, we will condemn the planet to a century of apocalypse. It will be Saladin with neutron bombs and genetic weapons.
The West for the past century empowered autocracies to suppress the fanatics, and then the fanatics came to punish the perceived paymasters of their tormentors. A choice between tyrants and terrorists is no choice at all, and whoever wins - - we lose. That is why for civilization to survive the prospect of a global jihad waged with WMD, it has to intervene and break the cycle of oppression and fanaticism by "draining the swamp" and introducing freedom to a region where it never existed - - "nation building" on steroids.
Liberating the region from both the tyrants and terrorists is not a misguided strategy, a laudable goal or a fanciful notion - - it is our only hope for national survival. If we fail in this endeavor, as President Bush said when asked by Bob Woodward about the judgment of history on his presidency:
"It won't matter - - because we'll all be dead"
Now you've done it. No sleep for me tonight. You're really something, Nothingman. ;-)
Wouldn't it be nice if there could be a "do-over" on the creation of Israel....give them France instead?