[Torie]

Yes, gratuitously expanding our list of enemies to the extent we can avoid it does not serve US objectives. US objectives should not be deflected by Muslim sensibilities, but Muslim sensibilites to the extent not inconsistent should not be handled in such a way as to in and of themselves deflect US objectives. Granted it is not a carthartic exercise for those seeking cartharsis, but it is a necessary exercise for those seeking the to maximize the odds of this most satisfactory long term results.

[LarryLied]

My 9/11 reaction, which I'm sure was shared by many, was to kill them all and let Allah sort them out. My feelings even now and probably forever is not sympathic, to put it mildly, when I see Muslim garb in America. But the goal is to win not wipe out an entire faith. We also have an obligation to good friends such as the Turks and other Muslims who have taken a great risk by being closely associated with the west.

[browardchad]

Granted it is not a carthartic exercise for those seeking cartharsis

I don't believe Americans are seeking catharsis, as you put it, but the government may find that the misdirected policy of claiming nations such as Saudi Arabia to be our friends will push the populace in that direction. God help us if there is another terrorist attack while this diplomatic schizophrenia continues. There may be some grand and unseen plan behind it, but the best laid plans have the potential of backfiring.

I also believe Americans are capable of distinguishing between peaceful Islamic states (of which there are too few) and those who, for whatever reason, wish to destroy the Western world. The same goes for the ability to distinguish between the populace and the governments of these states, although I fear most Americans have lost sympathy for the likes of the Palestinians, the majority of whom seem all to have been poisoned from the same well through the joint efforts of our "friends" in the Middle East.