This posting is response to Michael Reagan's article from Friday, Dec. 27, 2007: Memo to Reid Pelosi Co

Debate is good - if we are willing to hear each other, broaden our perspective and modify our position, as appropriate. Most of the debaters here need to understand that resorting to ad hominem attacks only exposes the shallowness of their arguments. They are truly a mile wide and an inch deep. They cast dispersions, but offer nothing of substance. And they distract us from the very real dangers that need to be addressed when they attack the motives of those involved in the struggle.

Michael Reagan is correct - the threat is real. Evil is real. Edmund Burke said it best: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." The 20th century should have taught us that evil will advance unless it is met with determination and force. Appeasement has never worked.

The essential step is to identify the enemy and develop a strategy for engaging him. 'War on Terror' is too vague, and the Administration erred by adopting that label. The identification error is responsible for the erratic prosecution of this war, which tends to resemble a global whack-a-mole.

But war is very complex. Few leaders have been successful without missteps. Honest Abe delegated to a number of incompetent military experts, resulting in a tragic death toll before victory - and liberty for slaves - was achieved.

President Bush has faced similar difficulties, made more complex by ever-evolving tactics and the multi-faceted nature of our adversary.  Could he have done better? Surely. He's made many mistakes. But it appears he now has the right leadership in place.  We can pray that al Qaeda has finally realized the futility of a frontal assault against our superior weaponry and military resolve. They and the Taliban have been more effective terrorizing tribal peoples with no means of defense.

It is time to clearly identify the enemy. Most of the conversation here has been in reference to heads of state. That's more distracting than thinking our adversary is terrorism.

To state it boldly: Militant Islam is the greatest threat to civilization and will continue to advance unless dealt with systematically and comprehensively. The scope is truly global; Islam is engaging civilization on every front: philosophically, theologically, militarily and demographically. The only reason they are able to engage us economically is due to their fortuitous oil deposits. Other than that, their 7th century mentality doesn't provide the necessary impetus for effective commerce. The vast wealth created from oil is not being used to improve the infrastructure, healthcare or the welfare of Muslims; the billions are being spent exporting Wahhabism, the most virulent form of Islam - via the construction of untold mosques and Madrassah schools worldwide.

I know that many of you question the moral superiority of 'civilization' with good cause. That attitude tends to correlate with America-guilt and its attendant self-deprecation. I would encourage you to focus instead on the blessings we enjoy, especially the inalienable right of liberty. It may not all be about us, as our Canadian friend notes, but collectively, the Anglo nations of the world are in the best position to export true liberty.

Islam is the antithesis of liberty. The very definition is 'to subjugate.' Some would argue that the definition is 'submission,' as in submission to Allah, but that ignores the clear mandate of the Qur'an, which is to impose worldwide submission to Allah. The preferred tool of implementation throughout Islam's 1,400 year history has been the scimitar.  The tools may have evolved, but the mission remains the same.

To anticipate your affront: Yes, there are peaceful Muslims. They deserve our protection, for they are considered apostates.   Those courageous enough to stand up to militant Islam are ruthlessly silenced. Why? Because faithful interpretation of the Qur'an demands their execution.

It is time for the veil to be lifted.

I include many of these points in more detail on my blog: http://blog.Y-factor.net