with Islam. Radical Islam is like the Capone mob in Chicago. Both pretended to be religous, but gathered support through fear, and intimidation for power and money. They both are simple criminal organizations who wanted to be viewed as protecting their constituencies - ie, Italians and Muslims. Both provided jobs during periods of low employment. Both tried to convince their members of the honor of their activities to justify their murder and mayhem. Both corrupted governments through intimidation and payoffs.
Most Muslims are not Radical Islamists. In fact, Radical Islamists are not even good Muslims, although they pretend to be. They are thugs, thieves, narcissists, and psychotics who seek power over others. They get their jollies by killing and terrorizing those who won't join their gang. Hell, they even brainwash some lower ranking followers to commit suicide - a violation of core Islamic beliefs.
Our soldiers need to take care not to desecrate ANY holy items. It will result in more Muslims falling victim to the Radical Islamic propaganda. It does not help in our fight. We should have learned in Viet Nam that you must win the hearts and minds of the population so that the population will risk intimidation to help the fight against criminals. We didn't in Viet Nam, and we're not doing it in Irag. Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, secret CIA prisons in violation of US law, sponsoring torture in violation of the Geneva conventions, et al. Would the police in Milwaukee destroy 3 blocks square to catch a murderer? What would your reaction be if they did? Would your reaction be understanding and positive?
Do we really think Muslims can't read newspapers, listen to radio, or watch TV? Do we really think the strategy of Cheney/Bush is working?
This is NOT a Holy War of Christianity against Islam, as the terrorists would like like Muslims to believe. It is a war of victims to protect themselves from international crimminals. It does not matter whether these are Muslim criminals, Christian criminals, Hindu Criminals, Buddhist criminals, Jewish criminals, or any other secular or religious criminals.
Lastly, we do not live in a Christian world or even a Christian nation. Worldwide, Christianity is a minority religion. And, while the majority of people in the US are Christians, we are constitutionally a secular state.
The US servicemen and servicewomen protecting the author's ass are Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindu, Jews, pagans, wiccans, and yes, even atheists. All of them deserve our thanks and our respect and we don't have to insult any of their religions, or lack thereof.
