It won't work. It's time to throw in the cards and push ourselves away from the table.

Submitted by Rick House (United States), Apr 17, 2007 at 17:27

I'm sorry Mr. Pipes, but a western sponsored moderate Muslim group/front is a non-starter and I think you and everybody else knows it. What we are seeing in the Islamic world is a religion searching for an identity. It is a belief system that's under siege and mired in confusion. Muslims must be allowed to find their own path.

The West should disengage as much as it is possible to do so and try to isolate and contain this historic religious disruption that is unfolding in the Islamic world. Even the mildest interference by the West leads to polarization and radicalization of the varies groups, prolonging the process. Instead, I suggest we think about some of the following moves toward disengagement and containment:

1. Limit Muslim immigration and travel to Western countries. 2. Limit Western business interests in Muslim countries. 3. Limit aid programs to Muslim countries. 4. Withdraw military aid to Muslim countries. 5. End all Western military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, yes, end the war. 6. Do not partner or engage in peace talks of any sort. Muslims must find peace on their own. 7. Reduce and/or eliminate diplomatic ties with Muslim countries.

Basically, the disengagement and containment should be structured and implemented to force the followers of Islam to come to terms with themselves worldwide. I know this policy will be bloody and tragic, but I honestly think it's the only way...

Rick House Denton TX

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