Can be done and will be done within our lifetime. Advances in technology in extrapolating energy from fuel cell technology (at the moment, we really need more nuclear power to do this), to say nothing of designing engines that can run on ethanol in cold climates and more efficiently in general(the latter, along with the high cost of corn and soybeans, is currently mitigating against this). It all depends on how much cost per gallon for petrol the American consumer can stand. We've just been spoiled with CHEAP and plentiful oil for most of our history.
2. Stop the expansion of Islam in Europe.
Not much we Americans can do here. If the rest of Europe follows the example of the Dutch, the problem can be contained.
3. Contain Islam in the Muslim countries. I can see this happening in Iran (which has a rapidly secularizing urban population), Turkey (where, contrary to paranoia from the European far right, it has been contained), and Pakistan (if the Generals ever embraced free market economics and cracked some skulls at the Madrasses), to say nothing of Indonesia. Don't see much happening in the Gulf States unless the price of oil plummets and the Wahabists lose their main source of income.
4. Kill any Islamists who attack us.
If only we had the will to ignore the media and the Europeans, this could be done with little backlash at home. There is also the matter of placating the Saudis, which has been Foggy Bottom's stock in trade since the fall of the Ottomans (Grrrr!).
5. Keep the Islamic world divided and weak. VERY easy. Easier than most "Middle East Experts" in the press/academia and Foggy Bottom think. As we have seen most recently in Iraq, even WITHIN Shi'a Islam, any sort of long term unity is impossible. Lets also not forget the strong ethnic rivalries/hatreds which preclude religious unity (of the 20 or so folks from Iran I have met in my life, NONE, religious or secular, thought of the Arabs as anything more than camel sh-t. I'm sure the Arabs have similar feelings towards the Persians).
6. Keep Muslim countries militarily weak.
Let's give credit where credit is due in the administration for keeping Pakistan's ambitions in check and for keeping the pressure on Iran. Even in cases where we give considerable aid to Islamic states, the results are not impressive. I mean, is anyone out there REALLY afraid of losing a war to Egypt? NATO-member Turkey could probably defeat the Greeks, but I don't see that happening barring a 180 in eastern mediterranean geopolitics. 2. Stop the expansion of Islam in Europe. 3. Contain Islam in the Muslim countries. 4. Kill any Islamists who attack us. 5. Keep the Islamic world divided and weak. 6. Keep Muslim countries militarily weak.
Then there are some of us that believe Islam is simply going supernova before it is absorbed by Western Culture and the belief in science and progress.
Then there are some of us that believe Islam is simply going supernova before it is absorbed by Western Culture and the belief in science and progress.