"My central worry is that we might act in ways that actually strengthen the ability of people like that to destroy, and that in fact we have been doing that over the last couple of years."

Destroy what Kevin? There is no way on this earth that fundamantalist groups like Al-Qaeda could bring down "western civilisation", I most certainly do not ascribe to the views held by Akenaton of either their ability or their power to do that.

As we established agreement earlier on with regard to the fact that there is no negotiated settlement with respect to Al-Qaeda, and that they have been attacking us since the mid-nineties, then it would not appear that we have any other choice but to fight them.

As for the emancipation of women, recent development in our society, patchy, or not, "our system" allows it and encourages it. Fundamental Islamists would not.