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The increase of terrorist activity has greatly motivated the West to seek to understand their relationship with the Middle East. The hope is to quell the violence and reinforce lasting peace. The first step to reduce tensions and promote awareness. There a cruel and relentless force rising throughout the Muslim world. The West is losing the war for millions of Muslim hearts and minds. Hearts & Minds is dedicated to this issue. We could insist on uncensored access to nationwide Iranian TV which would be a potentially history changing event. We don’t need to rely on Bush to take the sole initiative. A team of our most diplomatic experts could debate for a chance for peaceful but powerful communication. “Bring it on!” To refuse this opportunity could come across as cowardly and close-close minded. So different from Reagan's "tear down this wall," etc. We should be seeking opportunities for uncensored communication everywhere we can. The need is urgent Words lead to actions, so why cede effective communications to Iran, Hezbollah, Al Jazeera, etc. President Bush was correct in his pronouncement that our struggle is not with Islam, but with the extremists. Who can we change? Of course, one debate will not bring total success, but it's a start. The fewer Muslims taught to hate the West will dissipate the number of recruits for terrorists and the more Muslims will report terrorist planning. This was how we learned of the August 2006 London airliners plot. The idea of Bush or others debating Ahmedinajad is not to convert Iran’s rulers. Evidence indicates many are ruthless, Machiavellian fanatics. But millions of Iranians dislike their repressive theocracy. They are unhappy that their economy is worse than before the "Islamic revolution" of 1979. And that's before new sanctions kick in. Religious fanaticism brought Iran economic stagnation, international isolation and the threat of major sanctions. A very deadly, potentially nuclear war with Israel or the West is also possible. We need to remind them of this, and show there’s a much better alternative. Muslims worldwide will actively combat against Islamofascism, once they understand it is in their own enlightened self interest. Avoiding
World War III But by 1933, Hitler already had much tighter control of the media than Bin Laden, Hezbollah, Iran’s mullahs, Ahmedinajad do now. We were unable to reach the German people before Hitler's influence, but perhaps we can reach the Muslim people through open dialogue and with honest intentions. Sixty-two million people died World War II. World War III, between the West and nuclear armed Islamofascists could be even deadlier. Yet it's not too late to prevent this. In the present conflict, it is too soon to assume that all or even most Iranians are fully supporting their president. The West has to be very careful of playing into these fanatics' hands, letting Islamofascists take both the militaristic and public relations initiatives as they seek to manipulate growing numbers of sympahtizers into an increasingly deadly game. We have not been successful yet. We need to combat terrorists diplomatically without becoming terrorist ourselves. In Iraq, major ineptitude and halfway measures are a big part of what made this such fertile ground for terrorists. This war begins at home. We can't keep driving gas-guzzling SUVs and continue to consume five times the planet's resources for the average person and largely ignoring over 850 million people going hungry and the 2 billion in serious poverty and still belive we're on the side of justice. Record-breaking oil income goes more or less directly from the gas pump to oil sheiks and mullahs to terrorists. That’s how they get hundreds of millions of dollars for recruitment, indoctrination and training programs; guns, rockets and plastic explosives; safe houses, flying school and September 11 airfares; and so on. Madrassas - religious schools that teach Islamofascist fanaticism and little practical education, must cease for the students are not given the freedom to develop their own ideas and are technically brainwashed. Terrorism therefore become about one of the only career choices for Islam's rapidly growing, youthful population who are economically unstable and given few opportunities. Saudis alone have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to extremist Wahabi madrassas in Pakistan. These institutions were a major source for London's airplane bombing plotters. So let's accept any and all opportunities to communicate with millions of Muslims. If we're successful and they Muslim's cut off the communication the West can at least gain further momentum. Quick Guide
- How to Effectively Influence the Press, the Public and Our Elected Representatives
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