Submitted by Dave Levy, Nov 14, 2007 07:50

I have been following Ajami's very articulate commentary for years, and am aware of his support of the invasion into Iraq and Afghanistan with the purpose of liberating 50m people from the Taliban and Saddam's dictatorships. I applaud his views.

But, he is perceived as an Arab spokesperson who is a lackey of the Bush administration, and decidedly pro-Israel. The Arab world is violently against Bush's Iraqi policy, and of course wants a one state solution to the M.E. problem., that state being all Muslim.

Ajami may be right that behind closed doors, many Muslims are happy that Saddam is gone. But the reality of the results of our incusion have been seen these past 4 years, with over 3500 deaths, tens of thousands wounded, nearly 1 trillion spent, Al Qaeda stronger than ever, Islamo-fascism spreading (Pakistan), and the Palestinian goal of destroying Israel edging closer each day (the conference at Annapolis and the summit).

Iran, defying the UNSC, is about two years away from testing it's own atomic bomb, and nothing but a few meaningless sanctions are being done to thwart that. Iran threatens to attack Israel and US interests if it is attacked by anyone (whose purpose is to avoid a nuclear confrontation down the road), and a possible third world war. ( I agree with Bush on this one).

Any appointment as suggested in this article would be wise to consider someone like John Bolton. He may not be liked, but he would appeal to the more rational among the Muslims and also be feared, which is what the Arab world needs more of, fear, of US.

Unfortunately, the Arabs, ie, the Palestinians, are their own worst enemy. But they are getting smarter with their tactics. Their propaganda is first rate. They are seeing their own version of the light at the end of the tunnel come to fruition.

This entire problem in that part of the world is larger than Ajami, who is right, but terribly naive.

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