Gaddafi has been killed...

Modern Islamic extremism can be traced back to the writings of Sayyid Qutb, I'll say that. Even ignoring the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Sykes–Picot Agreement of 1916, Militant Islam will always be hellbent on countering the Westernisation or secularisation of Islamic countries. They want to be completely removed from the modern world, and live in their own theocracies.

Western foreign policy hasn't always helped (though it'd be a mistake to assume it's been nothing but detrimental to the region), but mostly the decisions made have been pragmatic ones. It's matter of choosing the lesser evil. That is Realpolitik for you.

tiffanywint wrote:

lachesis wrote:

We have appliied one consistent strategy in the middle east since the onset of their terror campaigns - the exact same strategy as actually initiated the terrorism.

Right, so Islamic terrorism is actually the west's fault. If only we'd been nicer, they'd behave themselves. Yep sure.

Ok I apologise initiate is far too strong a statement, but i believe it has been escalated in scope and in effect been made more outward looking by our intervention. Western ideals and a common focus of 'enemy' have unified peoples at the exclusion of their nomadic (and pseudo isolationist) origins. Every country has aggressive extremists to some degree but their ability to unify is something they only have when an external circumstance gives them 'righteous' fuel.

@sharky I agree in full but our ability to genuinely determine the lesser of two evils has not always corresponded with our need to act.

lachesis wrote:

Ok I apologise initiate is far too strong a statement, but i believe it has been escalated in scope and in effect been made more outward looking by our intervention. Western ideals and a common focus of 'enemy' have unified peoples at the exclusion of their nomadic (and pseudo isolationist) origins. Every country has aggressive extremists to some degree but their ability to unify is something they only have when an external circumstance gives them 'righteous' fuel.

"but i believe it has been escalated in scope and in effect been made more outward looking by our intervention" This is probably true, but I don't think it matters in any profound way.Islamism has not only a totalitarian bent but also an expansionist bent. The clash of cultures with the free west is inevitable and historic. There is no way, to not be at war with such a culture unless both societies can find a way to live in hermetically sealed bubbles. In the meantime, we need to maintain a vibrant market economy and both a massive military force and intelligence apparatus, to keep the totalitarian forces at bay, be they Islamic or proxies of Socialist international. Best defence is often a strong offence, so we have to strike from time to time as well. Can't always be simply defending. We are at war.