I regard the IRA as terrorists. The misguided who contribute to them are aiding and abbeting terrorists (those who indescriminitely target civilians). As a rational person and not an idealist, I'm somehow not worried that the IRA is going to nuke Boston, or infect Boston with smallpox.

You say...
The only "warfare" that will achieve the broader objective of ending terrorist activity except as an abberation (we will always have criminals) is one that addresses basic questions of justice, physical and intellectual freedom, access to diverse information, personal safety, and equal economic opportunity. Wherever one looks, even in the past, if terrorism exists as an expression of political will, at least one of these issues has not been addressed. Insofar as no nation (even the US) is perfect, the self-examination necessary to pursue those goals is difficult to conduct.
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I see this as classic liberalspeak. We agree that the US is nowhere near perfect but in no way do I think that some "enlightened" dialog, aid or whatever to Muslim fanatics or their corrupt governments is going to prevent mass US deaths by terrorism. Going wherever the Islamic fanatics are, rooting them out and killing them is effective. They have chosen western society and the US in particular as their demons to blame for all their failings of their primitive society. Just like Hitler demonized the Jews. We're the target. We can't just talk or be nicey nice to get them to stop attacking us.

It is a damn shame because 500 and more years ago, enlightened Muslims preserved and expanded the light of civilization. The Muslims of that day were more tolerant of others (i.e. Jesw and Christians) than were the murderous Christians. Somehow the west became secularized and fanatic Christianity held in check by Christian society while Muslim countries have deliberately fostered and abetted the growth of Islamic extremists. Big difference.

-p