For instance in regards to Egypt voting for the Muslim Brotherhood if there were elections…who benefits from that more than Mubarek? I heard a young Egyptian on some news program making the point that people in the ME who do not want democracy use the Islamists to make sure they will not get it because people fear the Islamists. And so he says, the dictators like Mubarek work at keeping the Islamists alive and well.

In truth the Iraqis need to confront asSadr. I don’t mean his militia, but the bulk of the Iraqi people who want a future that is not controlled by these fanatics.

The problem then becomes..do we have the time and do they have the courage?

Regarding your last comments, that is precisely the reason why radical Islamism must be confronted. If we pull out, the costs in every measurable way will be higher. Iraq will be used to topple the regional Muslim monarchies and overthrow Muslim states to create the Caliphate. The war will become more economic as well given our dependency on Middle Eastern oil. The only chance is that Sunnis, Shia and Iranians will continue to kill each other over who will lead this evil on the rest of the world.

Terrye,

I agree with you that it is hard to be an expert when we are often removed from relevant facts. However, as far as Al-Sadr is concerned, we should just kill him. Sorry, it was a technical malfunction that dropped that bomb on his house! Use whatever excuse you want. We had the chance, but did not take it. Why don’t we fight like we want to win? That’s why we are in this predicament. Would the collateral damage have been any greater than it is today? I don’t know. (Imagine what the recriminations will be like if we pack up and run.) Thugs only respect power and its application. Luther is right. Fight for our lives or ……

Regarding, illegal immigration, where does the rule of law come into play? If your offense is aggregious enough, then it is excused? (If you kill one person, you get the chair. If you kill 10, then you get probation? The logic is the same.) Do you know how illegals are treated in Mexico?

I am not a big fan of the fence and the real problem is the Mexican government with it’s socialistic policies that constrain economic opportunity. Mexicans, as a generalization, certainly do not appear to be afraid of work.

My sense is that most people want an equitable solution to immigration and not just a free pass, which would include the miscreants in the illegal population. A free pass would have many negative consequences.

Yes, Barry.

But they do not have voices in this fight. Like it or not, the weight is on our shoulders.
We must lead. We must be the voice of the yearning. It is a big job.

In a sense, the whole thing is really beyond partisanship. It is Normandy, many times over. Over the top or back to the boats.

Easy choice if one believes we are at war, but fifty percent of us do not believe we are. How can/will that change?

Pakistan has made a separate peace with the Waziri’s (who number about 30 million, are sympatheitic to the Taliban, and disregard the artificial Afghan border which separates them), and we know about Syria and Hezbollah. Michael Yon, for one, sees Afghanistan becoming more like Iraq,and NATO is unprepared to deal with it.

Nothing recommended by two policy wonks like Baker and Hamilton can encompass these realities. Their report will be accepted by the equivocating and gutless entities we call Senators and Reps, of all parties, and rolled out into camo blankets. Today Realpolitik is the policy of fantasists.

Reality is too harsh, cold, cruel and heartless for this country to implement. Anymore.

I just finished a 180 degree discussion with my better two-thirds. She is such a grounded woman and I respect everything she says. But on the war (and the greater war) I disagree with here.

There are only two options we face. Fight for our lives, or accept dimmitude. I fear what the Dem’s will bring us. John Lennon must must have a smile on his face, in his grave.

I do not doubt that is true. In fact if taking on AlSadr and really finishing him were that easy I would imagine that it would have been done by now.

But every now and then it is good to hear they are rattling the guy’s cage.

I never really feel comfortable with these kinds of discussions however, because I know there is so much I don’t know. If you follow my meaning. I am no expert.

I saw that on the fox news . Apparently there is an offensive against some of his militia, they are also calling in air support.

Too bad they let him back in the country in the first place.

If you look at the Wapo article and the link to austin bay you get the impression that the survey group is designed to offer the Democrats a way to get involved in fighting the war without looking like they are helping Bush. I hate politics.

Realpolitik is back, and along with it, Brzezinski and all the other Carterian buffoons.