Tom, once the predators turn into old dogs I agree that it's probably too late to turn them around. I thought it pretty obvious that much of what I was saying was in metaphors to general human behavior and it's a bit unfair to personalize it like you're trying to do. For Christ sake, of course there's going to be the lost cases that you simply have to stand up to with all the force you can. This however is individual one-on-one interaction and has nothing to do with global foreign policy.

For Tom, even the Bin Ladens and the mountain lion can be tamed at some point in their development. They will always be dangerous as all animals are of reverting back to their raw genetic programming given the right stimulus but I think even you have to admit that the most vile adults are not born that way (except for some genetic mistakes).

When we overreach, we contribute to the development of the bad guy that hasn't fully been overcome by the dark side. We reinforce the stereotypes that terrorist leaders begin to plant at early ages. Consider what happens though if somehow those recruits meet American Peace Corps volunteers that are helping them in their food production or building hospitals. Now there's a caveat to that type of help. You absolutely can't go in with a hidden agenda such as pushing a religion. They'll see right through that.

I never said that warfare has no effect. Of course it does. I just believe that in balance you get as much bad as good. Often that bad doesn't show up for generations but there is always a negative side. The decision to enter into it can never ignore the potential risks and side effects and our leaders should always be courageous enough to lay all the cards on the table before acting and asking the for the country's blessing.

You're lucky I'm a bit tired from my noon hour racquetball game or I'd lay into you for rephrasing my view of response to terrorism as "sit here and take it". Tom, that's the stuff that incenses people about you. You take complex thoughts and debate and turn them into these cute little sound bites that mean shit. Save that crap for children. It has no place in adult conversation.

Let me spell it out for you in a more condensed sound bite. As national policy we need to primarily set the example of civilized behavior for the world. It is the cornerstone of our strength. We are constantly vigilant against the criminal opportunists of the world that would take advantage of that policy and take them down as one would any other common criminal. If an army attempts to overtake our borders we dispatch them with every ounce of blood we have in our veins.

Clear?

Art