First step in the war ...

Submitted by Victor Purinton (United States), Apr 2, 2007 at 13:43

... should be for the President to go before the world and address the Islamists directly by saying that:

* The United States governs by secular democracy, as called for in our Constitution. This position is permanent and non-negotiable.

* We will defend the secular and democratic aspects of our governance with every drop of blood in our nation and every weapon in our arsenal.

* Anyone who voluntarily moves to the US, or anyone who voluntarily remains in the US, makes an explicit and public declaration that they accept permament secular democratic governance in the US.

* Any nation that wishes to call us friend accepts that we are a permanent secular democracy with no possibility of establishing religious governance, ever.

* Calls for religious governance in the US, whether from inside or outside our borders, will be viewed as existential threats to our nation. The United States will neither seek nor require the approval of any other parties to eliminate such threats in the time and manner of our choosing.

* The United States of America will never adopt religious governance of any kind.

Islamists of all stripes will find this to be the most terrifying statement we could make, for several reasons:

1) It establishes a precedent that Muslims can live under secular governance with no obligation to change it.
2) It sets an example to other nations that are currently tip-toeing around the issue of calls for Sharia Law (e.g., the UK)
3) It shines a light on the true, fundamental question facing the world today -- how we govern ourselves. This is a discussion the non-violent Islamists work very hard to avoid.

This war can be won with words, but they have to be clear, honest and strong.

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