"....and that they're seriously counting on us not having the stomach to destroy them."
That's a serious tactical blunder on their part because they have only a hint of how ferocious America and friends can be to defend our freedom. One more Sept.11 or worse will spell doom for the Islamofacists. There is no way they can win but it won't be easy for us on the other hand. Wish I was young so I could join the Military...
Well, looking from the outside, it is certainly understandable how they got the idea we're weak. They're wrong, but I can see how years of liberal drivel could only embolden an enemy of that kind.
But yea, I believe they're making a very big mistake. Actually my understanding from various sources is that some parts of the islamist world now believe 9/11 to have been a great mistake that brought only disaster for their cause, to great detriment of islamist types. That doesn't mean they'll quit their quest, but only change their strategy. Look for them to concentrate more on friendly regimes in middle east.
In either case, I think the world is on the edge of deciding it's had enough of Islamic barbarism. One more event on the order of 9/11, god forbid WMD related, and the West might just demostrate to the islamic world why it renounced real War 60 years ago - it was too good at it.