The strategies and techniques we use to deal with nation-states will obviously be different with those we employ against fanatical religious movements. That goes without saying, indeed, it is the failure to make this distinction which has led to our current problems in Iraq.

But we shoud not make the error either that all Middle Eastern states are dominated by bearded, bomb-throwing anarchists and fanatics, some of these people are sophisticated and subtle thinkers from an ancient civilization, with Western educations and even much time lived in Europe and the USA. They understand us better than we understand them. They also have every reason to distrust their Jihadist elements as well, although they are perfectly ready to use them for their own purposes. They may not be our pals, but they ain't crazy either. Arabs, after all, know how to deal.

Traditional Western concepts concepts such as deterrence and compromise are not exclusively Western, and may not work with Islamist radicals, but the existing governments, as well as those we'd like to see take root there, understand them perfectly well. But we also have to understand that all the players are playing to win too, and they are not going to roll over and die for us.

There is no cure-all strategy or philosophy, here. We need people who understand the area, grasp the long term, are willing to give in without giving up, and can devise strategies that meet an overall plan and simultaneously are flexible enough to adjust to current conditions. I know this sounds like double,talk but this is how the Great Game has always been played. You just don't show up and establish a Western Democracy and expect everyone to kiss your butt in gratitude. But neither do you hide your head in the sand and expect them to love you so much in return your problems will all go away.

This is business, something Americans should be good at, and any businessman will tell you that you have to make a profit, but you also have to keep your customers happy. And most of all, you must use an honest measure.