Archonix: Yes, they are more critical and they do ignore the accomplishments here. All of the news outlets have been attempting to drum up support for getting out of Iraq now, now, now. Regardless of the consequences. It has only been since the effectiveness of the troop "surge" (troops stayed in-country longer than originally scheduled, and troops preparing to go in-country were brought in sooner than expected... net effect, more boots on the ground) and, more recently, after the election that the news outlets have started to allow good news to surface. Prior to that, it was a lot of "this is how many people died today, US and Iraqi", and other related stories about how we're doing nothing but bad, how our presence was causing a civil war, etc etc etc.

To be clear, I don't think we should've invaded. The Iraq connection was flimsy at best- I think the whole war was Junior Bush finishing Daddy Bush business. But since we went in, we have to finish the job. We have to set the country back up in a functioning and safe way, or we're worse than Saddam.

If you go back far enough, all of Israel belongs to the Palestinians. But the League of Nations, after World War 1, and later, the United Nations, decreed that Israel exist. What we're faced with now is an Israeli state that exists, and in an effort to decrease the violence inside its borders, it is attempting to create a buffer zone between its land and its enemies' land.

The US did this by making allies out of Canada and Mexico- and has the luxury of two oceans separating all other potential enemies. Israel can't make allies of its neighbors. They either refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Jewish state, or they acknowledge it enough to want it to stop existing.

This leaves only a defensive military solution to the problem of securing their borders, and, rather than massacre the entire population of the West Bank (while the Arab neighbors of Israel would love to slaughter the entirety of the Israeli population), Israel is colonizing it, creating a buffer zone between them and their enemies.

Can you -really- fault them? You play Diplomacy. If you have a neighbor who you think is going to attack you, don't you keep troops strategically positioned so they cannot?

You're right that most would assume that 9/11 wouldn't do much to convert people. But what do you know... a number of Islamic groups are successfully recruiting people across the United States. While we've only seen a handful of people actually join them and become militant, that number can only go up. All you have to do is look at the other countries around the world that have more and more homegrown terrorism in the name of Islam.

Take a peek.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

Centurian: I'm not the only one right, Centurian. I've asked for proof from people and have gotten very, very little of it, save from Archonix. Everything else has been hearsay, belief, and political bullcrap. If someone can come up with any actual facts that refute my knowledge, I'll be more than willing to investigate them and acknowledge that I was wrong. Just because "everyone" thinks a certain way doesn't mean they're right.

A few bad apples? There have been over 12,000 terrorist attacks in the name of Islam since 9/11/01. Open your eyes! My home was invaded- by a handful of men who killed thousands. I'd say thats a pretty f****** good reason to go to war. So stuff your finger pointing at America.

Friendly Sword: I've not said that the only casualties have been Americans. I've stressed the fact that the extremists have been killing their own religious brothers. (See the 40,000 number a few posts above.) Honestly, I don't care how the groups got their start. They could've been the Palestinian branch of the Boy Scouts. They're militant extremists who want to kill people. Thats what matters.

As far as the West raping and pillaging the Muslim world, go back far enough, and its the other way around. Why do you think the Crusades happened? Thats right, the Muslims had pushed into Western Europe. Look up La Reconquista.

No, the American military doesn't always possess the moral high ground. The American military is a tool. Look to the people who use it whether or not the use of the tool is moral or not.

1) No, don't bomb all of them. Let their own religious brothers bomb them enough that they realize we're not the real enemy. And, in fact, if they want to live in peace with us, we can be the best friend you've ever had.

2) You, sir, have obviously not read everything I've written. I have a number of Muslim friends. I've never, ever said the Entire Religion of Islam is a threat, "in one hateful stroke". Here, let me quote myself:
From one post: "I have Muslim friends. They're not extremists."
From a later post: "I don't hate Muslims. Or did you miss that? I have many Muslim friends. Funny how cosmopolitan California is. They're MORE vehemently against the extremist faction of their own religion."

To continue point 2... You're right. You can "scrounge up" a couple of peaceful quotes from the Quran. The Qur'an never once speaks of Allah's love for non-Muslims, but it speaks of Allah's cruelty toward and hatred of non-Muslims more than 500 times. You're right, you can do the same thing with the bible- but you will find that the violent passages have a very strong context, ie, Ancient People A against Ancient People B, one or both of whom no longer exist as a social unit. In the Quran, thats not how it works. Its Believers against Unbelievers, the Faithful against the Infidel, the Muslim against the World.

And you know what else? I'll say it again. Over 12,000 terror attacks in the name of Islam in the last 7 years. Other religions have combined for about a dozen or so. Your comparison of the Bible to the Quran pales.

Northern Ireland is a bad example. Two branches of Christianity killing each other over, essentially, semantics and authority. They didn't want to kill a single person in the rest of the world.

Religion in and of itself isn't violent. I'll happily make the point, once more, again, for the fourth fricking time, that I don't have an issue with Muslims. I really don't. I have friends of that faith. I'm not the hatemonger that you all want to paint me as. But of all of the religions of the world, Islam is the only one that has a mass of hate built right into it, fuel and tools for the clerics and imams who want to rouse extremist militants.

I do an excellent service, sir, for spreading Knowledge and Understanding. I never once have said anything against any peaceful Muslim. I further no culture of misunderstanding and hate- you do. Do your research! Stop accepting what the media feed you at face value! Above all, read the Quran! Find out for yourself!

Never once have I said believe me above all other sources of information. Never. I have said, over and over, to go find out for yourself.