Reply #11: The problem is [View All]

[fujiyama]

radical and extremist Islam is not rational in any sense. The Soviet Union was not willing to die for its beliefs.

That's what makes Tancredo's statement so idiotic. This "war" can't be fought with physical force alone (which is where the right is completely clueless when it comes to terrorism). This is a matter of diplomacy with other Muslim nations because without their cooperation (or atleast the cooperation of their leaders), it makes it all the more difficult to prevent these attacks from happening. This makes it difficult for even moderate Muslim leaders (like say King Abdullah of Jordan or the leaders of Turkey) to cooperate, because the people will inevitably see the US as a threat to all of them.

I recall hearing how the statements by any preacher - let alone a congressman - in the US is blown out of proportion in the ME.

I don't see how this helps in any way. It will just put the troops in even more danger. This is a million times more inflamatory than Bush's idiotic and childish "Bring it on" statement.