[Uncle Miltie]

Western Civilization fought Islam non-stop for about 1,300 years, ending with WWI. The utter defeat of the Ottoman Empire and the colonial subjugation of Islamic territory staved off the wars for about 60 years.

Rather than supposing another 1,300 years of violence, I prefer GW's effort. Let's democratize and make capitalists of them.

A good Indian friend points out that India has a huge Muslim population that is much less militant, usually because they are spending so much energy making money.

In Iraq, if we can actually stand up a democracy so that they battle polls, focus groups and ballot boxes, it will be a much improved situation.

So I look for ways to change the game. Just because wild-eyed jihadists want to kill us all doesn't mean we have to commit genocide or die ourselves. We've got to create new ways to win. Some of that will involve bloodshed. Hopefully, we can find some additional ways that don't.

[starbase]

I agree, and here's a short list of success we're having in Iraq in setting up just that capitalist democratic society which you mention.

[crazycat]

A good Indian friend points out that India has a huge Muslim population that is much less militant, usually because they are spending so much energy making money.


The Indians are also lucky in having the Sikhs to keep a very distrusting eye on Mo's mad followers

[Jason_b]

"A good Indian friend points out that India has a huge Muslim population that is much less militant, usually because they are spending so much energy making money."

The other path: The Economic Answer to Terrorism, de soto

Addresses South American Marxist terrorism but might be relevant to the islamic problem.

For general interest: The mystery of capital, de soto