[rmnunez]

I look for tangible things susceptible of measurement, these are then reasonably arranged to see how they support the explanation. Here we have an idea; that the US is fighting to bring democracy, free-trade and progress and that it is confronted by intolerant regressive religious fundamentalists. There are lots of tangible measurable things suggesting this is a fair characterization of the forces confronted.

Bush said he sought to democratize the Middle East, elections were arranged for after occupation and held with substantial risk, considerable cost and great sacrifice. Free trade and progress are related and there is evidence of both of these, billions were allocated for reconstruction and big multinationals granted lucrative contracts, but I also noted how difficult improvements can achieved in the middle of an insurgency.

You recognize there is intolerance and hatred for non-Muslims, and well you should as we have lots of tangible and measurables here, like the names of the groups perpetrating expressions of hatred and intolerance, the clerics who rally them and their own statements. The fact terrorists (or insurgents) refer to themselves as martyrs shows the religious fundamentalist angle. Plenty of cases have been well-documented giving evidence of the regressive nature of the enemy's ambitions, just consider how Afghanistan went after the Soviets left or take the Iranian case after the Shah -both suddenly became dangerous places where crimes of conscience could get you decapitated.