I absolutely agree! This is what we need to do, and we have successfully done that in countries like South Korea.
I guess we will see what happens after Saddam is toppled.
I hope that any readers of FR with pull in these matters encourage the Bush administration to take a long-term approach to keeping these crazies from sprouting up like mushrooms in the future. We can do that by making money there building infrastructure, encouraging democratic rule, making sure that the kids are getting a secular education, and so on. Once they have a middle class, they will not want to go to war.
We helped Saddam in the 80's against Iran, we aided the Mujahadeen (and indirectly Bin Laden) against the Soviets, but when you pay murderous thugs (or worse, smart and evil murderous bastards) for your wartime activities, they will turn on you later. It's right in Sun Tzu's art of war: Mercenaries will desert you at the first opportunity. Or as the CIA calls it, "blowback".
We need a long term, 50-year approach that develops the next generation of leadership in these countries. Our approach in some parts of the world has been coming back and biting us on the ass. There have been some successes during the cold war such as South Korea, but some situations such as Panama/Noriega also comes to mind.
Stan Kubrick
FR is widely read, but it's direct political influence is minimal. Indirectly though, conservative radio and TV talk show hosts will read FR for show prep. Many times I've heard conservatives from Rush Limbaugh to Ann Coulter reference FR, and pick up on ideas first discussed here. Many lesser known local hosts read FR for prep.
But the reality is that even with broad public discussion of ideas in FR there is little impact on the political scene . The reason is simple, logical and appropriate. Money.
FR is about ideas, philosophy and political principles. Policy is driven by money. There are over 5,000 political lobbying groups (PACs) with more direct influence than FR. That is at it should be.
I'm a Jeffersonian liberal (classic liberal) as are a large percentage of Freepers, though in modern lingo they might call themselves conservative or libertarian. As such, I am opposed to engaging in initiation of international wars for reasons of vanity, political philosophy or economic expansion.
But if a country declares themselves to be a mortal enemy then their lives, the lives of their citizens and their fortunes are forfeit, irrespective of the relative military or economic power of the US.
"It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past."
-- Carl von Clausewitz.