So you propose to kill every Muslim? (And by the way, your history is faulty … the “war with non-Muslims” began with the Crusades - launched by the Christians - in the 11th/12th century.)

Defending yourself and those you love is admirable, as is a determination to crush your enemy. However, a refusal to admit that we in the West have made contributions to the problem, and a refusal to seek peace EVER, is just plain stupid and dangerously close to a “terrorist mentality” in itself. It is black & white, fundamentalist thinking on both sides that causes the hatred and death. A willingness to think does not indicate weakness; rather, it indicates strength. I don’t always agree with Obama by any means, but he’s right in this case - there is a “profound lack of empathy” on our enemies’ part. They do not see us as humans, and thus they are willing to kill without thinking. We should be willing to kill as well, but if we do so without thinking - as you seem to advocate - we descend to their level and no longer have anything worth defending.

Her response was to explain to me that “if you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem.” We were walking across a common area on campus at the time. I stopped in my tracks. I told her that I have lots of problems but I don’t go around blaming total strangers for them. I gave the example of getting a flat tire. Do I have the right to point my finger at those driving by me, because they aren’t part of my “solution?” This was the seed of my conversion to conservatism.

Yes, this is an over-simplification of geo-politics. It doesn’t explain Israel, Iraq, Iran, etc. But since those who attacked us on 9/11/2001 have been at war with non-Muslims since the 7th century, I don’t give a lot of weight to the “reasons why they hate us” such as our support for Israel and our aggression towards tyrants.

I echo BTL: Screw their motivations. I just want them dead. Because only when they are dead will your and my children be safe.