Originally Posted by Reality Land

You are being thick. The phrase "war on terror" extends to Islamic Fascists around the World. "The war on terrorists" or "The war on Islamic Extremists" or "The war on ideological differences", or whatever. But then, you know this already don't you? So stop playing cute with the literal.

Originally Posted by Chan

No, the "war on terrorism" would extend to Islamic fascists around the world (who the hell ever decided these Muslims adhered to fascism I don't know) and, at least in theory, to all other terrorist groups.

As for your attitude of good enough, I ask what was asked in a television commercial back in the 1990s:

If we settle for 'good enough' will it ever be good enough?

Originally Posted by Reality Land

Fascism is what it is because they are trying to force their religious beliefs and way of life on others. They always have and they always will. Just read the texts they use to teach there young.

Originally Posted by debateman

So anyone who forces their religious beliefs on others by force of law is a fascist?

Originally Posted by Michael

We do indeed need to study what happened with the British and Soviets in the same mideastern region.

Anyone remember the Revolutionary War with George Washington fighting to survive with time on his said. The British had to fight to win while all he had to do what fight to not lose.

It was the same situation when the Soviets were in Afghanistan. The Afghan rebels, including Osama were fighting to not lose. Time was on their side. The Soviets had to fight to win, and it became a war of attrition - how long could they finance an invasion. They went broke in pursuit of Empire.

It is sheer arrogance to think this could never happen to America. The cost of Iraq alone is $12 billion a month and the longterm expense is in excess of three trillion dollars. Our current national debt is $9.2 trillion while our longterm unfunded fiscal commitments calculated each year by the GAO is estimated in the $63 trillion.

Originally Posted by Michael

Most Americans do not have aspirations for being an empire. However, that is the neo con agenda, and they are in charge of the white house right now. We have over 750 military bases worldwide, we have the largest military budget in the world, we have spent over three trillion dollars on Iraq and Afghanistan, etc... That looks like "Empire" to me.