And, Dan...that was a great post! I would definitely rather deal with a spoiled North American than with the young Pakistani lad who is willing to become a martyr for his cause by killing himself and a whole bunch of people he's never met.

A higher standard of living in the 3rd world would soon do more to eliminate that kind of ignorant response than would any number of military campaigns. Experience has shown that when people achieve a reasonably secure level of material life, they are far less likely to resort to crime, drug use, and violence, and they are far more likely to practice effective birth control as well...thus easing the whole situation for all concerned.

We could move in that direction by paying workers in the 3rd World what they are really worth, instead of using them as virtual slave labour...but we'd have to give up some of our accustomed luxuries to do it.

I've been giving up some of mine regardless. Times are tougher than they used to be.

- LH