[MadIvan]

There is an inherent tension between the type of system that America represents and the type of system that the Islamic terrorists want. If only because of America's cultural influence, there is bound to be conflict on some level, and likely one involving actual warfare.

What keeps the enemy at bay is an image of strength and a willingness to project that strength. Few bastards tried it on with Reagan or Thatcher because they knew the punishment would be swift and severe.

Finally, to say the USA has global interests is not to say that America is less of a Republic or becoming an Empire. It is a reality. America exports to the world (as much as the Patsies hate it) and imports much of its energy supplies. Neither America nor Britain have any interest in letting the 3rd World spiral out of control because when it does occur, that problem has a bad habit of arriving on our doorstep in the form of refugees.

The Paleos are much like the Socialists in naively wishing for the world to be something other than what it is. It is only dangerous if this naivety becomes policy.

Regards, Ivan

[syriacus]

There is an inherent tension between the type of system that America represents and the type of system that the Islamic terrorists want. If only because of America's cultural influence, there is bound to be conflict on some level, and likely one involving actual warfare.

I agree. The crux of the problem is a shrinking world where people with competing outlooks (Western - Muslim) have to bump shoulders.

Muslims don't even want to see our women's bare shoulders, much less bump into their bare shoulders. They like their women under wraps.

Don't worry. I realize I'm oversimplifying the problem.