Hobbes said:
What exactly are you suggesting we do to deal with this problem now? How could we deal with Radical Islam all at once?
Can't do it all at once. It will take generations, in which, Muslims are going to have to do for themselves. The west cannot repair a religion and the environment in which so many Muslims live futureless and in desperation. This is an Islamic problem that only Muslims can fix. We can only provide support and opportunity (most of which is non-military action). And of course, we need to stop our position of looking for the immediate gain by ensuring "stability" in the Middle East at all costs. Until Saddam's toppling, it had become governmental and intellectual habit.
However, their are immediate reactions that we should be facing with more unity and boldness. I would suggest that the world stop pandering to the sentiment that "if we antagonize them, they will kill us."
- Hezbollah festered in Lebanon for two decades. They are an internationally recognized terrorist organization. The UN (which is represented by many dictators and tyrants who don't represent the mass of their people) knows exactly what they are. Half of the Middle East recognizes them as terrorists and the other half recognizes that their sole purpose for existing is to destroy and commit genicide. Yet no one did nothing. Even now, France refuses to send more than the minimum of support to keep them suppressed (Largely because of their Radical element and prior riots). Other "allies" will follow suit and the violence will continue another day when more civilians will die.
- Al-Queda attacked the U.S. military for a decade and was allowed to strengthen under the Tali Ban in Afghanistan with no retaliation. This was internationally known. Yet until 9/11, no one did nothing.
- Ahmenadejad, in Iran (which is merely an extension of the true religious power that oppresses their society), publicly declares the devine glory of the future destruction and genocide of another civilization (a western ally). He boasts his determination for nuclear power as he continues to uphold the traditional role of maintaining and supporting the "defenders of Islam" in Lebanon. Yet, no one has done anything. Of course, as we have all become quite familiar with, there is a whole bunch of deliberating.
This is just the three most obvious cases. There are dozens of Islamic terror organizations within the Middle East and dozens more organizations in Africa and Asia that gain power through death or simply wish to murder "non-believers" in response to mostly imagined and exxagerated injustices. Yet, we are largely doing nothing. Our culture in the west has us trained to accept that it is only "honorable" to defend oneself when the trigger is pulled. However, waiting around for our people to inevitably die before we act is suicidal and western governments are failing at their protection.
Al-Queda, the Tali- Ban, and Hezbollah were well known threats. We payed for our tolerations and willful ignorance. Should we wait to pay for our willful ignorance until after a terrorist organization detonates a nuclear device? Imagine where we would be today if we acted in the 80's? Where will we be tomorrow for not acting today?
