End the Violence - I'm tired of apologists. I'm tired of naively proffered "solutions," however well intended they might be. I'm tired of people who refuse to see the truth, when our enemy has laid it out plainly for us to see.

I know the US has not traveled lightly upon this planet, and has committed wrongs against other peoples. I know it because this is the history of mankind, for thousands of years. There's never been a virgin power on this planet. Ever. Ain't nothin' new, but it doesn't make it right. Just as those transgressions can in no way certify the attacks of 9-11. Nothing can. Ever. You'd think no thinking feeling human could suggest otherwise, but you'd be wrong. And there's plenty of voices saying the best thing we can do right now is change our horribly evil ways so that these bad things stop happening to us. After all, it is all our fault. We shouldn't perpetuate the violence, and if we just stop, they'll stop.

Let's put an end to these arguments. Serve 'em up: For starters, how about we withdraw all support for the Israeli's until they unilaterally withdraw from eastern Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank, dismantle their settlements, and declare permanent peace with Palestinians? Osama bin Laden and fundamentalist Islamics do not support a two state solution, they support the death of Israel and all Israelis. Their fatwas regularly call for it. Our surrender will be but a stepping stone to that goal, not an end to the violence. Next.

OK, then let's end all the embargoes against Iraq, and flood them with humanitarian aid in penance for our supposed misdeeds there. Surely that will win them over? No, Saddam is far from pure in his Islamic beliefs, he is only their ally because we are their common enemy. With us removed from the equation, Islamic fundamentalists would see Saddam as a mere infidel to their purist cause. He's far too secular for them, and they would target his regime for violent overthrow. You're gonna have to do better.

Well, alright, what's really got Osama's turban tousled is the presence of US forces on the Saudi peninsula, the "Holy Lands," so let's get 'em shipped out of there right now, and he'll no longer have anything to complain about. Yep, we will surely have totally surrendered then. So Osama will feel free to take vengeance on those he sees as the true betrayers of the Holy Lands, the Saudi Royal Family who let us in. Our departure will not gain them forgiveness, just assure Osama we will not interfere with his next holy war; their violent elimination, and an Islamic fundamentalist power sitting atop the main oil supply of this planet.

The violence must end. The only question is how long it will be. More innocents will die. The only question is how many. The only certainty is that if the US accedes to all demands, and totally removes itself from the situation, the violence will continue longer, and even more innocents will die.

It will not stop on its own, like a ball that loses it energy after rolling downhill. There is only one power on earth strong enough to bring it to an end. Those who want us simply to go away do not want the violence to end. "Going away" will not pause the ticking Jihad Clock even one second.

They have said, plainly, clearly: "We do not differentiate between those dressed in military uniforms and civilians; they are all targets in this fatwa ... The fatwa includes all that share or take part in killing of Muslims, assaulting holy places, or those who help the Jews occupy Muslim land."

Translation: As long as Israel exists, Americans will be targeted for death, military and civilian alike. You may choose not to believe that, to believe instead that we should not perpetuate the violence.

Your beliefs are irrelevant to his cause. He still wants to kill you. He says so. And he will still try, until he and those like him are stopped, no matter what you believe.