It will take longer than most think it will.

Submitted by Edmund James (Canada), Feb 28, 2006 at 15:41

It took many generations after WWII to convince the Germans and Japanese that there was a better life: it was democracy. Now there are allstar baseball players from Japan, and there is a German/Austrian governor in America. But first the grandfather's and fathers had to pass away, the traditionalists and hardliners, to allow the children to eventually think differently. But during this transition there were military bases on their turf.

In a way, the same applies with the Iraq, regardless of the threat of civil war. Indeed, we may have to make a stance.

Furthermore, maybe Mr. Pipes, you have not gone far enough with the reality when you say: "Militant Islam is the problem; and moderate Islam is the solution." Perhaps Islam is the problem period. The world is threatened with a continual war that will escalate, especially if our democratic society gives in, far too soon.

---

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".