Can you make people stop believing in a religion by defeating their armies and overturning their governments? Will their belief become less fervent or radical if they are invaded and occupied?
Not likely.
Good point, Steven. One of the few new points made recently.
The regime change in the former Soviet Union provides a broad template for the kind of action which is necessary.
It will require, in my opinion, a means of convincing the Islamists that their path is fruitless. There are two ways to do this, namely, culturally and militarily.
From a cultural standpoint, we have to convince them that our culture, with its openness and freedoms, is superior to an oppressive Islam which puts women down, promotes illiteracy, and is otherwise stagnant. We also need to engage in a few salutary self-corrections such as a return to more spiritual and less materialistic values, a little more modesty, etc. Nothing radical. The cultural corrections we need cannot be imposed upon us but need to come from within, otherwise there cannot be a cultural victory over the Islamists.
Don't underestimate the influence our culture of freedom had in the demise of Soviet-style Communism.
From a military standpoint, we need to be effective, as we were in bankrupting the Soviets through our increased military spending.
Bernard Lewis's insights and those of lesser figures like Raoul Gerecht are 100% correct. Weakness in responding to Islamist aggression simply promotes it. While they know we are hugely powerful, they rightfully question our resolve to use our power against them. Every act of terrorism requires an immediate and powerful response. If our President says he will attack Iraq, he'd better do it. Otherwise, Saddam will become even more dangerous and we will suffer more terrorism. |
