My opinion is that a process of evolution is underway. I will use the analogy of cancer to illustrate this.

When a cancer grows in the body, it is often not recognized as such until it crosses some threshold beyond which it calls attention to itself. For instance, a breast cancer will go unnoticed until a lump is felt; a lung cancer may be undetected until there is breathing difficulty or coughing of blood; a brain tumor manifests with a seizure. Likewise, the threat of Jihad was a distant concern to Americans until 9/11.

Once the disease is identified therapy is initiated. In the the case of cancer the tools of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation may be used. Surgery may take out evident tumor but cancerous cells may escape the knife to grow and proliferate. Radiation may sterilize these in the area around the tumor but other cells may have escaped to the bloodstream to find new homes in other organs or bone. Chemotherapy may kill these cells but a fraction may be adapted to survive the poison. What you are left with (in this pessimistic scenario) is the most mobile, tough, resiliant and proliferative clone of cells which will be immune to attack and live on to kill the patient.

Similarly, the Jihadist that can be killed by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will be. But, those that, for what ever reason, can escape will likely be adapted to survive the current tactics being used against them. They will spread their message and plot against us until we can find a way to kill or neutralize them.

So, the question is: How do we know when we win? According to a grim joke, you know when you have cured a cancer when the patient dies of something else. Thus, the cancer analogy breaks down. So, what should be the standard of victory?

Should it be:

1) An interval of time between major terrorist attacks (e.g. 10 years without a major attack on US soil)?

2) The conquest of some nation?

3) The overthough of some monarchy or dictator?

4) The elimination of Wahabbist organizations?

5) The death of OBL?

6) The end of nuclear proliferation?

7) The destruction of Islam?

8) Some of the above?

9) All of the above?

Anyone?

Anyone?

The fight against Jihad wont even have begun in earnest till (among other things):

Western governments recognize that we are in an all out war against Muslims.....we dont recognize that yet.

Western governments recognize that Muslims in their countries are there for one purpose only, to foment violence and insurection, over time.....we dont recognize that yet.

Western governments quarantine or expell Muslims from their country, if you will.....use chemo on the cancer......since that will not happen......We will never defeat Jihad.....

IN OUR MIDSTS!

Islam means submission and the fear from random terror is a useful means of making most humans submit to a perceived superior force by ...denial, silence, collusion, or conversion.

As many folks in western society worship at the altars of multiculturalism and political correctness, they won't examine the foundations of a culture that is based on terror and death.

We need courage, creativity and resolve to combat an Islam that proudly announces it is the last, best and most perfect religious, social and political system ever. Looking around at my decadent society, I'm not sure we have "enough of the right stuff" to do take them on.

I hate to say it...but what we probably need is another succesful attack on a Western nation on the scale of 9/11 or (the unsuccesful) Oplan Bojinka. Only then will the vast majority realize exactly what sort of enemy we're up against. As it is now, most people in the West have no public memory of anthing that happened prior to last Tuesday.

The West needs a major shock. Only then will it truly rouse itself and do what needs to be done--and contrary to JCF, I think the West does have what it takes. It just doesn't realize it yet.

Let there be no doubt that we Americans have what it takes. Our forefathers carved out this land for their own, and since then every generation has proven itself to have the "right stuff". Though some may be unaware, our strength lies in wait, if only people would open their eyes.