If the Iraqi’s want to stop the infiltration from Syria, they can build their own wall, or deploy their own troops to do so.

I don’t think I’m being unkind. They have been given a precious gift, but it is the gift, not the giver, they must recognize and care enough about to fight to maintain it.

The dictators are fighting two fronts: the emergence of another democracy and the fidgeting of their own people to have the same, and the Islamists who want to rid the area of the dictators because they do not recognize borders and desire the return of the caliphate.

The dictators are doomed to fail at some point.

The future struggle is not between the West and the dictators, but between the opposing elements of Arab society. Those wishing freedom vs those wishing the caliphate. It is a war within the Arab world itself.

That struggle also exists inside Iraq.

I think it’s time for us to step back a bit, assist those desiring freedom, keep a close eye on the dictators and states that wish us harm, nudge here, criticize there, but basically keep a lower profile. Let the rhetoric move from The Arab World vs The West, to the Forces of Freedom vs the Islamists.

Always watching, always wary, but stepping in only where absolutely necessary.

America needed to change the status quo of the region. That we’ve done. Now we wait to see if that was enough.

The democratization of the ME will include some democratically accepted reduced rights for women. Almost certainly NO legal abortion, NO gay marriage.

“Unacceptable” either means willingness to fight for it, or willingness to “accept” it. Very little is unacceptable from Israel, China, Pakistan, Sudan, or France, to name just a few. “I disagree with that” is more accurate, and more accurately shows the weakness (so what?) of an unwillingness to fight.

Leftists confuse insults, Insults, and INSULTS, with actual fighting.

I know exactly what you mean, but we have to do a better job of making the connection. And if we are to succeed, it is important that the people of the region step forward.

What’s the alternative? Is it fair that the Middle East, left to its own totalitarian devices, exports terror to our shores?

Isolationism is a sentiment, not a plan.

As for driving the numbers down: they were driven down not all that long ago, and are rising. Why wouldn’t they do so again?

The numbers at Pew are encouraging but I think they will do a nose dive if we go after Syria and Iran.

I jumped all over Allah once for saying something I am going to say myself right now. Why us?

The Israelis faced down and survived unrelenting pressure from people very much like the guys running Iran and Syria, we gave them assistance..but they fought for their country.

Now I know that the Iranians and Syrians are doing their best to screw things up in Iraq and I know the Shia are going to be influenced by the Shia in Iran just like the Sunnis and Baathists are going to influenced by the Sunnis in Syria.

But in the end the people of Iraq have to be willing to face them down. The Isralelis did not turn into Hamas and the Iraqis don’t have to turn into the mad mullahs either.

I think this first constitution will have some things I don’t care for. I am just glad they are going to allow amendments later so that there will be hope of rectifying lapses. On Fox the other morning E.D. said that it is completely “unacceptable” for the US to support the Iraqis if their constitution allows any abuse of women. I listened to this and I thought “Does she know where we are?” this is the Muslim world.

But like Allah I have to wonder why we have to be more responsible for this than the Muslims themselves. Our soldiers are supposed to fight for America and while I do believe that liberty is always in the interests of America, is it fair to ask these young people to go on from place to place?

Maybe it will be necessary but I really hope not.

If you work on it a bit, it does take you to a good Van der Leun piece.

I think this is the Instalink.

In re Iran – it’s gonna take hot rain and the forecast for the storm to break is for December ’06.

I agree with Mohammed. Whatever heat Baby Assad has been feeling, and it is considerable, it’s not yet enough. We need to turn it up (and there are ways to do this short of all-out invasion). I frankly admit to being stymied by Iran, however.