I guess no one has time to Bund...

Except me.

And while Ryan's absence is understandable, the move certainly hasn't stopped him from texting me 15 times a day. One little text thread we had stuck in my head.

I asked him if he thought the more moderate Arab and Middle Eastern states paid off various extremist groups to keep peace. He responded by describing the agreement the Saudi Royal Family has with "radical" Muslim groups in that 1) the extremist schools would be allowed and unhindered and 2) Members of the Royal Family who contributed wouldn't be prosecuted. (Ryan called it "oil guilt", giving to those who have nothing by those who have everything.)

It's this tacit acceptance of the radical element of Islam within their society that made me rethink some of my position on the main strategy against said group. If the money will always be there, (and let's face it. The Saudis have LOTS of money. They don't sell another barrel, ever, they'll still be okay for at least a generation and a half) and if there are aspects of societal makeup that means the radical element will have a niche, a home if you will, then the only difference between radical Islam in places like Saudi Arabia and extremists here in the USA (McVey, you get the idea) is law enforcement and the judicial system in America.

I know what you guys are saying. "Duh. Tell us something new."

But that's just it. There is nothing new. If the groups can pull from disenfranchised Muslims at will from moderate, stable states within the region, then this is a no win situation period. The same could be said if we as Americans allowed KKK schools, radical LDS sects (the kind with 18 wives and sixty-three kids) and the like to just set up shop anywhere.

The political success of Hamas during the last round of elections in Gaza proves that Hamas, as an entity, has no interest in the safety, prosperity or liberty of its citizens. It is only interested in furthering its own radical agenda against Israel and spreading its radical revolution abroad.

The whole point of this is this: If there is no "grand strategy" capable of dealing with radical or extremist Islam, then the best course of action is to defend ourselves against it. And to defend ourselves against it we need to be impervious to the threats they may bring, first and foremost the nation's demand for energy. I've felt in the past that eliminating our need for foreign oil would strike at these people in the wallet and in distance, i.e. our reduced need to be in the region. But since the money isn't nearly the factor I'd hoped, eliminating our need to be in the region becomes all the more attractive.

Isolationist? Not really. There are plenty of people, nations, that NEED the oil every bit as much as we do and THEY will have interests there, and THEY will become the targets. Is that falling down on our job as a super power? I think not. I'm sure you guys have opinions.