Jeebus Pat. You've done it again.

PB: I've never seen an example of any type of diplomacy other than forced that mattered or made a difference have you?

If youre talking about the American, French, and Russian revolutions, you're talking about violent conflicts that stemmed from within. In no case has an occupying force managed to force democracy on another nation. Only servitude, and even that hasnt tended to last. After all, John Lennon wasn't considered Italian, was he?

GM: Bloodshed -as the designers of this war surely know- only strengthens holy war combatants.

PB:No it slows them down. What strengthens the holy war combatants is doing nothing and then it grows exponentially.

Pat, on what do you base that remarkable statement? Have you seen any sign of Hizbollah slowing down? Or Iraqi insurgencies?

PB: So either this guy is talking about imposing a democracy or paying out money to a country (extortion) where as history has shown never gets to the people. In either case for the radical element it would not matter because they are born and bred homicidal maniacs.

I think Montesquieau was suggesting A: Set a good example yourself; B; Do no harm; C; Help where you can.

If I came to your house, shot your family and held you at gunpoint and said "Renounce Your God!", and somehow you tricked me into believing that you had done so, and I let you live and went about my merry way, would you rest until you felt you were avenged?

If somebody's 5 year old throws a tantrum and slaps you, do you hit him with a tire iron?