I agree with most of your article, Dr. Pipes, however ...

Submitted by kman (United States), Jan 11, 2009 at 18:35

As to Israel's abandonment of its battle against Hamas a few years ago, I see it as Israel's getting tired of fighting the fast growing Middle Eastern military machine virtually alone. The U.S. has been on a path that shows how much more alliance it is willing to go on with. Yes, it is the sign of America's unwillingness to stand against any of the world's evils beginning with Korea, then Viet Nam, and finally Iraq.

We keep looking for the fast clean wars of the Gulf and Herzegovina (can't come up with the correct label or spelling). Regardless, the western world no longer has the stomach to fight a protracted war with Islam. They don't have any awareness of the existence of the real fight or nature of Islam either.

Where do you expect our planet's sudden realization to come from besides you and a sprinkling of others?

In light of the western world's weakening resolve to stand with Israel, I can't help but see Israel looking at a future fight against an enemy that is being fought by proxy so far by a stronger and stronger Arabic military.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".