There are a whole bunch of faulty assumptions here, beginning with the idea
that we lost the war in Vietnam. At worst, it was a push, but we did achieve
the primary goal of halting the spread of communism in Asia. Ultimately,
Vietnam demonstrated the abject failure of communism and should be seen as
one of the events that led to the collapse of communism in Russia and
Europe.

The invasion of Iraq has accomplished similar geo-political goals. The
Findlandization of such countries as Iran and Libya has been evident. The
thing we must do is stop allowing terrorists to control our media. The
beheading of a few hostages has absolutely no military consequence, for
example, but the tremendous publicity gained by these actions has inspired
thousands of others.

These people want only one thing: the complete destruction of all infidels.
The thing that people are going to have to understand is that it is possible
to lose this war and they should understand the consequences. Terrorists now
control Spain. Spain will do whatever the terrorists want; all they have to
do is make a few threats or blow up a train. We are in danger of losing the
Philippines.

If we allow the terrorists to gain control of this country then we are
doomed. You are right when you say the terrorists are taking a long view.
Their ultimate goal is to create fundamentalist Islamic states in every
country in the world. But refusing to fight back, refusing to destroy them
wherever they are found, refusing to use every weapon and measure at our
disposal: that is the way to lose this war. The terrorists and their
sympathizers must be made to understand that one of the costs of continuing
this war will be the end of Islam as they know it. They must understand that
the media will no longer do their dirty work for them. Their shrines and
holy places can no longer remain inviolable. Their religious leaders can no
longer be allowed to maintain private armies. Countries that allow the
transit of fighters should expect a nuclear response. Those who raise money
for terrorist organizations and allow their mosques to be used as forums for
recruiting terrorists should die and their mosques should be leveled, no
matter where in the world those mosques are. Moslems in the United States
should understand that the consequences of shielding terrorists in their
midst and apologizing for them will result in their extermination. They
cannot continue to advocate the violent overthrow of democracy and expect
democratic protections.

It is time to take this threat seriously and stop using it as a political
football or as an arena for judicial grandstanding. So far I have seen
absolutely no sign that either party is willing to do that.