Civilization's disadvantage

James J. Na writes about why America is both military superior and inferior compared to its terrorist enemies in Iraq.

George Will

George Will analyses the Rice versus Clarke intelligence debate.

Is Iraq doomed to dictatorship?

Michael Ledeen writes about whether a servile culture creates dictatorship or dictatorship creates a servile culture. I'm optimistic enough to think that it is the latter and that by replacing the dictator with a more freedom oriented society, a better Iraqi culture will emerge.

Fixing Islam

Daniel Pipes has an interesting column about fixing Islam. He reviews a book by Cheryl Benard which discusses this subject in more detail. Islam is broken down into four groups: Fundamentalists, Traditionalists, Modernists and Secularists. We can't win the war on terror through counter-terrorism tactics alone. We must strategically disarm the enemy by defeating its ideology.

James Robbins

James Robbins discusses the "reality" of the Middle East.

Mark Steyn: To be or wannabe?

From Mark Steyn's latest column:

"The fads and fashions of the world aren't confined to the Billboard Hot 100. All over the planet, men in late middle age are pretending to like stuff just 'cause it's what the likes of Maureen Dowd tell them people want to hear. John Kerry pretends to like gangsta rap. Russia pretends it supports the Kyoto Accord. The European Union pretends Yasser Arafat is committed to peace with Israel. The Security Council pretends its resolutions mean something. Kofi Annan pretends the Oil-for-Fraud program is a humanitarian aid effort for the Iraqi people. The International Atomic Energy Authority pretends the mullahs in Tehran are good-faith negotiators on the matter of Iranian nukes."

Reuel Marc Gerecht

Reuel Marc Gerecht argues that the Iraq war is part of, not a distraction from, the war against bin Ladenism.