Obama is a better man for the war on terrorism, for a very simple
reason. It is not just bombs that deter terrorists, but also
improvement in the condition of the lives of people in Middle East
and better view of the Western world. Terrorists feed off two twin
problems: Bad conditions and ill will toward the West. And it is by
addressing the two, convincingly and effectively, that the spell of
jihadism can be broken over the people of Middle East.

The Australian army has figured this out, and is doing the right thing
in Afghanistan. Not only are they involved, as all armies on the
ground, in the military operations against Taliban, but they also are
building schools for children and training adults in skills such as
carpentry. In this they are tackling the two root problems. They are
giving people a chance at a better future, and they are building
goodwill in the people toward the West. That makes the people a lot
less likely to believe or join entities such as the Taliban.

Whereas Republican Party's policies are completely blind to this
obvious dynamic. They just want to come in, shoot up the place, and
declare victory. Then they want to claim that the hatred that Middle
East has toward America is because of its freedoms. That is false.
While the jihadists do in fact hate everything that is not Sharia, the
people support them because of the blindness, arrogance, greed,
irresponsibility and stupidity of Republican policies in the region.

The Reagan administration encouraged Islamism in Middle East as part
of its war against Communism. What made them believe that Islamists
would be more partial to USA than the Communists? Either it was a huge
oversight, or we are seeing genuine wrongdoing. And why would McCain,
who has similar ideas on these matters as did Reagan, solve the
problem instead of adding to it?

America armed and trained mujahedeen against USSR. When USSR withdrew,
American policymakers forgot that Afghanistan existed. It was not long
before these same people turned their guns away from USSR, which no
longer was on the map, to USA, which was. The people felt used and
betrayed. This gave a fertile ground for jihadists, whose tactic has
been to feed off any sentiment against the West or any part of the
West and use it to turn people into terrorists.

Indeed the terrorists have done this: Infiltrate any constituency that
has a problem with West or with Israel or with government. Goal? Turn
them all into Sharia thugs. Republican policies do not begin to
address this problem, as they are focused solely on military action.
But to truly end terrorism, it is necessary to also remove the true
infrastructure for supporting terrorism: Ill will toward the West, and
bad living conditions, of people in Middle East.

To succeed over the long term, any anti-terrorist action requires that
people in Middle East be given good view of the West as well as a
chance at a better existence. And while neither Democrats nor
Republicans are advocating that the war against Al Qaeda and Taliban
be brought to a halt, in order to create and win the peace it is
requisite to apply approach similar to one that is being taken by
Australian forces in the region. It is necessary to win the war; it is
also necessary to secure the peace. And that can only come from action
that benefits people on the ground as effectively as it combats the
militants in the hills.