Bill, I don't think I'm naive on this issue but then the naive are, by definition, too naive to know they're naive aren't they? g.
If you really believe you understand the "powerful ideas that motivate them," then ask yourself honestly what men like Bin Ladin believe. Do you come up with the "hate infidels, hate America" short response or do you have a better understanding? Most of us have been willingly herded into the camp of those that "know" that he's an evil, cowardly, radical Muslim extremist and that's the end of it. The question is where is his support coming from, why do a HUGE majority of Muslims see him as a devoted, charismatic and admirable leader and what can we do about it? What are the ideas that are the enemies of America? The men who champion those ideas will change but the ideas will live on.
If you truly believe that "there are cultural and religious issues which divide the west from the terrorists in a chasm that cannot be bridged," then we should be doing a lot more bombing, or fence building, or something. That's a very pessimistic approach and it fails to take into account that ideas and animosities do change. Sometimes they change over generations but we should never pass up the opportunity to work for change. |
