Mini-nukes on US agenda

[Whaleboy]

Fair enough, but its not half the Islamic world, but much of it is pissed off with us, many of them hate us which fuels the terrorism. We shouldn't "challenge" them as you put it, or try to rectify it actively, because whatever we do, some elements will take it as imperialism, or neo-colonialism or Western dominance etc. We should merely withdraw, and culturally, they will shift positions when they realise that economically, they need us. Also, when we're "friends" again, we should do what we can not to piss them off for our benefit, because it always comes and bites us in the arse.

[Jac de Molay]

We shouldn't "challenge" them as you put it, or try to rectify it actively

Why not? If fanatical religious factions, and the countries where they thrive, are the wellspring of a world-wide terrorist threat, they should be engaged and challenged (not threatened) to incorporate ideals like freedom and tolerance that span all ideologies.

Societies like these should be held accountable before the world stage. Handling them with kid gloves for fear of cultural imperialism is a cop-out.

We should merely withdraw, and culturally, they will shift positions when they realise that economically, they need us. Also

The rise of the Taliban/al qaeda axis in post-Soviet Afghanistan was a direct result of the "withdrawal" you allude to. The world forgot about afghanistan and look what happened.

[Whaleboy]

Why not? If fanatical religious factions, and the countries where they thrive, are the wellspring of a world-wide terrorist threat, they should be engaged and challenged

Because, objectively (if not from our point of view) there is nothing inherently wrong with their position. If they are to change that, it has to come from them, not us, and if they dont, then we should just leave alone. On the other hand, I think we are fine to advocate our views, maybe even go as far as making sure they can pick up western broadcasts etc, but that has to be used with caution. The reason I say so is that if we are too blatent, too proactive, or too involved, then that will be interpreted as cultural imperialism by the Arabs, whatever the genuinity of our intentions, which of course won't help us one bit as we piss them off even more. Cultural interaction is something that we in the West really haven't learned... look at our history, can we suprised?

Societies like these should be held accountable before the world stage

By whom? The USA?? The only body that is in a good logical positiont to do so, the UN, takes a more passive stance similar to the one I advocate!

Handling them with kid gloves for fear of cultural imperialism is a cop-out

Well do you want to stop terrorism or not? Either that, or you continue the current policy, which is only benefiting the politicians and arms manufacturers, while increasing risk of terrorism to you and me, and making Arabs suffer even more. Failing that, we piss them off, which has the same effect.

The rise of the Taliban/al qaeda axis in post-Soviet Afghanistan was a direct result of the "withdrawal" you allude to. The world forgot about afghanistan and look what happened

Not a valid analogy. The Soviets in that case didn't repair the damage before they left. If you have a non-functioning state when you pull out, what do you think is going to happen, and who do you think is going to get the blame? Look at what happened when the colonial powers pulled out of Africa, and you'll see why I think the USA should stay in Iraq now that theyre there (which isn't preferable), pull out AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, which isn't the case now. Places like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, etc etc can be functioning states without us, of course, it won't help them to not have us, but thats the idea, a PASSIVE message that will create popular support for Western involvement again. Like I said, after that point, fundamental Islam that is anti-West will simply run out of fuel.

I'm not saying we just hit a switch and pull out, things are far more complex than that, but this has to be the aim if we are to stop terrorism, because that is a battle that cannot be won the way we are currently fighting it.