[quote=Amazon] try and weaken the will to join the terrorists among the general populace [/quote]

Killing the leaders is the best "will-weakener" there is.

Doing nothing is the biggest emboldener (for further info, google 9-11).

Free markets are the key to economic prosperity. Unfortunately for this one region of the world, millions of people are a long way from the starting gate of free markets.

Too bad about the meltdown of American resolve. It comes from complacency. Most Americans have never visited a developing country. The real implication is that our own existence here is more threatened, and you can thank people of average intelligence everywhere for confusing the important issues.

Or maybe it's not within our power, whatever, to be able to get these people to the starting gate. We'll just have to take it as it comes. The current threat is much less faceless than an entire nation of people.

I believe the american people are fed up with the half assed way we've prosecuted the war. If we had to invade, why not do it right? As the truth behind the quagmire is exposed more and more people say enough is enough. Had Bush gone in with a well executed plan and enough troops, even if a draft had been needed, i think he would have gotten the support he wanted, and Iraq would be a very different place today. That support would still be there.

We don't have many liberals talking about free markets, or putting what is happening into any economic context.

The American people are fed up, but the prosecution of the war has been meant to minimize American casualties and win over the hearts of the Iraqi people - essentially, immediately give them unknown freedoms.

Unfortunately, for lack of any better ideas, the best idea seems to be " just do it " and initiate some behaviours in the Muslim world and by extension the Arab world - they align the economic reality of free markets with the status quo of fundamentalist expansionism.

When liberals here start taking responsibility for managing a stable world economy, they will earn the right to help steer the foreign policy ship.

Right now, all I see are a bunch of sniveling munchkins complaining about how things might have been - Harry Reid is the munchkin king, and the thought of him helping set our national economic course ( in terms of national security, for starters) scares me.

I thank God for Bush's courage, his ability to keep his sh*t together, not sure I could have handled the pressure.

Put this in the context of all of the American sacrifice that helps us celebrate the 4th, freedom.

[quote=Amazon] [quote=Dust Bunny]

You can't kill an ideology with a gun.

Sure you can. 

[/quote]

I guess you can... but it's nearly impossible. If you want to crush an ideology your best bets are temptation/propaganda. Essentially, offer them something they can't get where they are currently (or more likely, make it only seem like that) and make it seem as though your way is the right way by any means necessary. Sound immoral to you? Well, it's try and gun them down, miss a few, they plan revenge and probably cause another 9/11 incident; or try and weaken the will to join the terrorists among the general populace and try to convince terrorists that there views are somehow wrong.
[/quote]

The problem is that we aren't dealing with people who are rational.  The terrorists, like those Doctors in England and Scotland have been brainwashed since childhood to hate.  They have lost the ability to have rational thought processes.  To assume that we can use gentle persuasion as a tool to change their minds is about as insane as trying to pet a pit bull that has been abused all of its life.

The rest of the population has been beaten and cowed into submission by the Imams and other despots.  All they want to do is live so like the German citizens in WWII they go along with the program, hope that they can keep under the radar and won't be killed themselves.  Seig Hiel  Allah Akbar  same thing.

[quote=opie]

[quote=Amazon] try and weaken the will to join the terrorists among the general populace [/quote]

Killing the leaders is the best "will-weakener" there is.

Doing nothing is the biggest emboldener (for further info, google 9-11).

[/quote]

Also Google bin Laden's "strong horse" analogy

Just don't vote Hillary or Obama!

Oy Gavolt am I glad I missed this thread!

At the same time I'm glad I found this thread, it's been great for my tomato plants!

WIMC - you need to trim this jungle of plants.  Prune the bush to promote healthier growth of your tomato.

Makes me hungry for BLT's!!

"Prune the bush to promote healthier growth of your tomato."

I refuse to get into a politcal discussion here! He's your President, Right or Wrong!

But thanks for reminding what the weekend joke was gonna be!