Hoo! Hoo!
Let's see if we can agree:
"My point is that preventing terrorism is primarily a police problem, using the laws against conspiracy etc., not a military problem, using soldiers. What's your point?"
I agree with your first bit, but can't agree with the second in so far as Islamic terrorism is concerned. Comparisons to whacko anarchists, or white supremacists indigenous to this country or it's "protectorates" blowing up things in NYC, DC, or OKC, not withstanding, I have seen nothing suggesting that civil institutions of this or any country can handle the OBL form of criminal/terrorism.
Most recently Pakistan's Tribal leaders have "pledged" to root out the foreign "conspirators." We shall see. ...In any case, not being Pakistani and being unwilling to rely on their "law enforcement," I tend to think of OBL's location there as a "military problem" and that your definition of "military problem" unnecessarily limited.
Where do you get the idea that there is a solution to terrorism?
Well I got the idea for the 5% solution from you. :)
For myself the Deadly Dichotomy admits of no perfect solutions. All must eat dirt and die, ...but I suppose that could be called a solution for such creatures as may come after. I take it we are in agreement as to there being no "perfect" solutions.
Can we also agree that there are many different solutions and that their levels of success or failure will vary?
I think we might be able to further agree that people can only use the tools they have to address a problem. But that may be as far as our agreement will reach.
I also think it quite likely that if the use of one tool proves inadequate, most people will move on to a new tool if one is available. But as I said above, I assume your definition of "military problem," (and possibly your view of the proper use of tools) is something we won't agree on.
As best I can tell we've had at least two generations of Iraqi's, Saudi's, Iranians, etc... already growing up being taught that America is Satan and to be despised. The indoctrination has apparently sunk in sufficiently to bring an effective number of the trainees to our door.
I don't see this as a technology transference problem. If the difference is between whether the trainees arrive with a remote control roadside bomb, rocket, or a stick of dynamite and a match, it's pretty much the same to me.
Given the circumstances post 9/11 and an inability to know things perfectly, I see no basis to criticize the move into Iraq. As far as I know, Pakistan may have become the permanent refuge for OBL in the absence of that kind of "performance art." He may yet. Heck, for all I know Pakistan is one assassin's bullet away from officially designating OBL the new Minister of Defense. If so I will be well and truly pleased to have the capability to have troops in Iraq.
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