The critical thing to keep in mind is that American policy has had a tremendous influence on the ability of radical Islam to take hold.
It was the USA that helped with a coup in Iran in the 50's and installed the Shaw in the 1970's. Both huge blunders that created massive backlash towards America. It was the USA that gave 4.5 Billion to fighters in Afghanistan (then ignored it) strengthening the hand of Bin Laden and letting the Pakistani secret service help the Taliban take power. It's the USA that has for 80 years helped keep an oppressive Saudi Government in power to keep the oil flowing, and more recently has turned a blind eye to Isreal's consistant violation of International Law and human rights abuses. It was the USA that helped Saddam build his army supporting a known to be brutal dictator.
We've helped lots of bad people over the years, because it seemed to be to the people in power in our interest at the time.
Our history is what it is. I don't feel the need to owe anybody for past mistakes, but the notion that radical Islam has just sprung up out of nowhere and they hate us for our freedoms is patently absurd.
The single most dangerous thing we can do as a country is to not realize the negative potential of our actions and weigh our course appropriately.
Doesn't mean we can't be tough when we need to, but the image we're projecting under Bush is one of aggression, not Lady Liberty!
And Chief, please dispense with the our God is better than their God BS. If you want to start your own Holy War go ahead, but I seem to remember the last Crusade ending 800 years ago
-spence
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