Why are we still arguing over going into Iraq? I could cite fact after fact about WHY we went into Iraq. People who claim that President Bush purposely lied the American people in order to go into Iraq have some serious flaws in their analysis that they have to address, To start with, why were the biggest Democrat politicians, now whining about Iraq, singing the exact opposite song about Iraq before Bush was even elected?

The idea of invading Iraq and overthrowing Saddam did not originate with President Bush. Let us look at reality and not just blindly accept every crazy claim manufactured out of blind partisan hatred. Has the War in Iraq been perfect? Heck no. However, the criticisms launched over the handling of Iraq are not fueled by ideas of a better way, but are merely the fodder of demagogues who believe they can ride the issue for domestic partisan advantage. There is a big picture here that the partisan hacks refuse to acknowledge. It is the elephant in the room. In order to see the BIG picture, we need to take a look at history.

Let's start with the REAL war here. The real war is the extremist Muslims against anyone who is NOT an extreme Muslim. Mohammad returned from his "retreat" into the desert with a new vision and a new religion. When he returned to his hometown, the people, knowing Mohammad all his life, basically laughed him off. Can you imagine growing up in your small neighborhood, taking a 40 day hike and then returning to claim you are a prophet? All the people who remember when you tried to cut your own hair, when you played on the local baseball team and had a batting average of zero, or awoke at a slumber party with toothpaste all over your face; are now supposed to believe you are a prophet. Must have been tough for ol' Mohammad.

So, Mohammad skipped town, and started spreading his religion elsewhere. The humiliation of his hometown response must have haunted him, because he returned with an army to help persuade these same folks to convert. This set the precedent of how to spread "True Islam".

When Mohammad could not win with words, he won with a sword. In Mo's defense, many of today's prominent religions have a history of violence. The Arabs also aided in giving us our numeric system based on tens (or decimals). Sadly, it seems the Arabs have had a bit of difficulty progressing beyond the ability to count to ten. Each religion has gone through their transition period. What we in the West call "An Enlightenment."

There's more. The fighting among the Muslims themselves has been going on since old Mo took his original dirt nap. HERE is just one great source of information on this history. Also, keep in mind that the Iranians are not Arabs, they are Persians.

Now let's fast forward. Iraq was actually a British colony. The hatred toward the West stems in part from the days of Imperialism and Colonization. Traditionally the three groups that make up Iraq, Sunni, Shia and Kurds, have been encouraged to hate each other. A classic example of the "Divide and Conquer" school of Imperialism. What is happening in Iraq is an outgrowth of that strategy. Let’s put it in terms Political Leftist might understand. Let's pretend that abortion clinic- bombing radical Christians went to war against Planned Parenthood. In such a "Civil War" 90 percent of Americans would NOT be fighting. No matter which side Americans might agree with more, they would not want to see the blood shed and war taking place at all. This is what is going on in Iraq today. Various violent gangs are waging war on each other and the Iraqi Government. Most Iraqis do not support the bloodshed and violence taking place. After all the civilians in Iraq are by far the most likely victims! The Terrorist "Insurgency" kills far more innocent civilians than they kill of Coalition and Iraqi Security forces combined.

There is also a difference in culture. We have been fortunate to grow up in a place where conflict is handled peacefully, and lawfully, so we reject the idea of violence to settle differences. This is NOT the culture of the Middle East. As pointed out, when Mohammed could not win with words, he won with a sword. In the Middle East, ideas are accepted, and gain influence, only if backed by the use of power. He with the most guns wins. I would LOVE for us to be able to deal with the terrorists without war, but they have not gone through their “Enlightenment” yet.

This War on Terror is forcing a long-needed reassessment within Islam to take place. You see, this blood shed needs to happen. Like the West did after World War I, The Islamic World needs to get to the point where they are sick of the death and the waste and futility of war. The Islamic world still has not learned, as the West did in World War I that "Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori." (It is sweet and right to die for one's country") is a lie. Until the Islamic Nations bleed enough to learn there is utterly no glory in war, there can be no peace between us. Unfortunately, this Enlightenment will not be an easy, or quick, process. It will be take generations for the Islamic Enlightenment to work itself out completely. Terrorists are a devoted bunch of folks and they are not going to just lay down their bombs and look for another career.

This is a two-front war. One needed to be fought both in the realm of ideas and on the battlefield. Until Militant Islam gives up its bazaar fantasies of World domination and accept the realities of Peaceful Coexistence, their can be no peace between us and them.

Secondly, the fighting and attacks are fueled by outside influences who are seeking the defeat of the US (and Western civilization as a whole). They gain if they can create not only a state to foster the continued war against the infidel, but also to use as proof to support their “America is a Paper Tiger" propaganda. Many of the fighters are not even Iraqi citizens. Iraq has merely become the battlefront for a war that has been brewing far before Clinton ever took office. Clinton is not to blame for the War on Terror. Bush is not to blame. There is plenty of blame to go around, but if anyone takes a long and honest look at history, they will see that this is a culmination and boiling point for a struggle that we made the mistake of believing was settled long ago. It was never settled, only the violence was contained. The violence has long been going on; we were merely arrogant enough to assume it did not involve us because they did not attack us here at home.

So, in order for the world to achieve TRUE peace, we must do 3 things. We must let them know that we are willing and more then able to destroy them. We must show them an option exists for them to put down their weapons and seek non-violent ways to advance their cause. We also need to instill hope for the future by showing Muslim youths that while Democracy may not give them everything, it will give them hope for a better tomorrow.

I haven't even touched on the role of Israel, but that is for another day, not to mention that Israel is only the tool and symbol that Dictators and Terror Leaders USE to fuel the modern hatred towards the West. But the hatred existed far before Israel was ever created. The root of the violence stems from Mo’s idea of spreading the Great News of God. Go figure....