>I understand your vision of the world as you think it should be and I am not saying I disagree. But I don't think many well meaning people have any understanding of the world as it is, and that means they really aren't in a position to propose actual policies that would lead to that better world. That is fine, since most people do not have the responsibility to formulate or implement those policies.
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>But the people who do have that responsibility do not have the luxury of wishing. And sometimes they make the wrong choices. And sometimes they base the choices on bad or incomplete information. But the choices still have to be made.
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>They can't make the choices based on the wishes of people who don't understand the situation. This was very true in the Cold War and it is equally true now. The threat of Islamo-fascism is very very real. It is not based on a misunderstanding. In fact, if we understood them better and they understood us better the divide would only be greater and the struggle would intensify. It would certainly cause our side to be more aggressive.

HI Charles,

I believe that you are wrong about meny of your assertions.

Just as you think everybody else is naive, you should also think that, if all the time You look&listen to the world only trough set of topnotch, SecretService style , ExtendedAudioVideo&NightVision gadget-glasses you might very well fail to see giant cocroach eating right of the top of your nose!
So whose interests were served at the end ? Was it improving Security
in Iowa ?

One should never forget basic principles that made this world still stand.
No matter how bad situation might appear to be, breaking the universal rules and principles (&Law) is NEVER way to go. Nor should anybody advocate that.

If you do no harm then no (or much less) harm will head your way! As simple as that. I am atheist (except when teaching my chilldren ;) but this thing I seriosely believe.
That is first and foremost rule Your foreign (and cover intelligence services) policies should adhere to, if you ever want to have peace. Then you will NOT need 'Warr on Terror' abroad and one diehard secret intelligence officer watching every block of houses at home to feel secure.

Islam world is actually only one that can deal with it (terrorism/fashisam etc) provided that you stop *helping* them this way. Extremisam will never stop but it can be contained to prewar levels . Those levels would never rich this high if there was no foreign invasion at first place. Now that bad spirit was let out of he box, what you saying might make sense to some people, but it simply should not hv heppened this way.

>>Peace :)