[madrussian]

However, if "Islam," by which I suppose I mean the great masses of practioners throughout the M.E., decides that it wants war, however, we will not be able to prevent it.

What America does may determine how great masses of practitioners react. It may turn into a jihad against the "Great Satan", in which case Osama bin Laden will be vindicated in the eyes of non-radical muslims. It's easy to step into the abyss, and it seems that the neocons and terrorists have the same goal of starting a global war.

[cicero's_son]

Like I said, we have a limited ability to influence how the future unfolds. I didn't say "no ability;" I said "limited ability."

But what happens if, in prosecuting a just and limited operation to destroy al-Quaeda and her sister organizations, we still incite the Islamic masses? Already, many of them are purchasing t-shirts with bin Ladin's face and praising him as a "hero."