You know, I must admit that it is kind of humorous to read the awesome display of naivete' in this thread.
It is called a "War" on terror for a reason. I don't think there is a single sane person who seriously believes that there is a diplomatic solution to the Islamic terror threat. Diplomacy requires a negotiation, one in which both sides are interested in resolving the current dispute, and in order to do that, are willing to give up some of their ultimate goal in exchange for agreement. Islamic extremism has clearly demonstrated they are not interested in compromise.
So, diplomacy is off the table.
That leaves only two alternatives .. capitulate or conquer. It truly is no more difficult than that. Either they win, or we win. Anybody who believes there is some magical middle ground is seriously deluded. The opposition is not interested in middle ground.
For purposes of this discussion, we'll assume capitulation is a non-starter. (Although, frankly, I am not convinced that is the case in Washington, DC these days).
So, how do we conquer? Frankly, the military solution to winning the war is relatively easy. We turn loose the world's most powerful military with a mandate to take control of a strategically important area. We recognize that war is ugly, that people die, and that those deaths (whether they be our soldiers or theirs, whether they be our civilians or theirs) are a necessary price that must be paid for successful prosecution of the war.
Then what? I remember two countries ... both of them, as a result of war, were put on a path to democracy. The path was ugly ... people tried to establish their own fiefdoms, people tried to assume command, both countries wrote constitutions that were thrown out and new documents created. Both countries, because of political expediency, were forced to create a whole addendum dedicated to restricting the power of the government. Both countries struggled for 10 years or more, and eventually, they both got it right.
We have no desire to establish a 51st state in the Middle East. But, we need to recognize that, as the most powerful nation on earth, we have a responsibility to support establishment of a state/country that can further the goals of democracy. We need to provide the nascent country the security and protection necessary for their populace to learn, establish, and exercise those activities needed for self government. We need to ensure that the people have the knowledge, the ability, the opportunity and, most importantly, the time for self government. We have done it successfully in the past and we need to do it again.
We were well on the way to this in Iraq - until we quit. We were moving in the right direction. Everybody complains about supporting Maliki ... we didn't support Maliki. We supported the government that the people of Iraq elected. We know it wasn't the final answer ... but then, democracy is ugly, convoluted, and difficult. We need to make a commitment to the people of this new country ... and we need to live up to it, no matter what. Help them to create a functioning government, a functioning economy. Help them to realize the gifts we were given...
Besides, the first time the Iranians look over the fence and see all those big screen TVs and gallons of mayonnaise being carried out of the new Iraqi Walmart ... they will overthrow the government, and create their own new democracy!!!
