TriggaFingaz, how can you differentiate between the "Enemy" and the "Friendly" Muslims? The "Friendlies" seem to temporarily arrest the "Enemy" and then let them go. The "Friendlies" make all kinds of kiss-ass apologies to defend their own community and expect maximum forgiveness/tolerance/latitude towards them, but at the first opportunity they will ALL jump on you for something you did that they didn't like. With those kinds of "Friends" who needs "Enemies"? Nobody likes a Fairweather "Friend", because their unreliability and ineffectiveness is far more dangerous than someone who is consistently an "Enemy". At least the "Enemy" Bin Laden has the honesty to openly declare war on us and call himself our Enemy, unlike our so-called "Friends" who are making nice-nice to our faces while waiting to get out the knives as soon as our backs are turned. The danger from AlQaeda comes precisely from all the "Friendlies" who are sitting there in front of our noses like decoy warheads or chaff.

well said sanman, as new sources of energy are used more and more our dependence on oil would become lesser. the oil was discovered by us "infidels" the desert barbarian knows nuthin but violence. death to all muslims who are extremists.

Saudi Soldier, The price of oil would almost certainly exceed $US 100 per barrel, but why would this be a long term economic consideration, it is really short to medium at best and driven by speculation. The Middle East does not monopolise light/sweet crude. As to genocide against muslims, I personally do NOT want to either be a witness or participant unless that is my only choice. If it is, I will fight like a cornered coward. However, if one third of this planets population is Muslim and they unite and launch a Jihad aginst everyone else, basic maths indicates that they are outnumbered two to one. Even if the 'Shahid' bomber tactics are the norm amongst the enraged Muslim community, what shall the Muslims do about the Tamil Hindus who pioneered and innovated just these exact same tactics that the Islamo-fascists claim for their own? It's a two-way street, are you driving on the right side?

The price of oil can only be $100/barrel if anyone's willing to buy it. The more nuisance the Islamists make of themselves, the more people will find alternatives. The Middle East has evolved for centuries under the egotistical illusion that they are the "indispensable people" -- the MIDDLE in "Middle East". That was originally due to their geographic position between Europe and Asia. They never had to develop any personality appeal, because they always figured that everyone would have to queue up for their attention. As historian Bernard Lewis has famously pointed out, as soon as maritime commerce was invented, the stuck-up Middle were easily bypassed and suddenly left out of the loop. As a result, they were left with only their sand and their camels. Recently in the 20th Century, the advent of the gasoline era and the discovery of Oil in the Middle East suddenly gave them their coveted Middle status again. So now they're back to their swagger. But don't worry, Bernard Lewis is going to be able to write another similar chapter again, as the world finds ways around the Oil blackmail of black gold. Then the self-proclaimed Middle will be back to sleeping outdoors with the camels again. Let's face it, the only reason they have all that oil is because once upon a time prehistoric animals had to queue up to gain passage thru the Middle, and ended up dying while in the queue. But other than that fortunate happenstance, the Middle doesn't have any other saleable family jewels left to fall back on. Whaddya gonna do to make up for it, once the oil can't get any money? Nothing. Zero. Nil. Nada. You can't do a damn thing, because there's nothing else left there. Once the pinch from reality sets in, they're gonna have to doff the towels and the prayer rugs, and get some personality transplants in order to feed their stomachs. Because Oil just doesn't parch the thirst very well.

I think a better question is what would happen if some crazy nation nuked a dozen of the worlds religous sites (Medina, Mecca, Jerusalem, Vatican, Varanasi,...) Would organized religon disappear? Would the old ones fail or would man simply invent new ones?

In my opinion the true believers in the vein of Eric Hoffman's meaning, "The True Believer" will persist in their efforts at Islamic terrorism. The impact on the silent majority of practioners of Islam may be very destructive as a tenant of their religion requires them to participate in a Haj or pilgrimmage to Mecca. Islam is a historically based religion that is additionally geographically based, thus such an attack may lead to wonderment about why Allah would allow such a travesty to occur? If Israel was to implement its Shem Shon strategy, there likely would be a total nuclear destruction of Islamic countries. In other words, just as Sampson destroyed the temple of the Phillistines, the Israeli's would destroy the temples of their enemies (total infrastucture) were they able to after a WMD attack on them? Mecca and Medina would only be part of the package.

Hehe, if they're not good at being deterred, then maybe that can work in our favor too. Judo -- push when pulled and pull when pushed -- use the enemy's momentum against him. The USA needs to pull out of Iraq -- AFTER having armed lots and lots of Shiites there. A good ol' civil war in Iraq, between Shias and Sunnis, will bring all the fundie freaks like moths to a flame. You won't have to hunt down the suicide bombers, they'll all come running to liquidate each other. This "distributed network of independents", as they might boastfully call it, is inherently weak on command and control. The macho beardboys are quick to rush into fights, but it's not so easy to keep them down home on the farm. Since the Islamists love to hate, then give them the only enemy who can reciprocate full-heartedly -- other Islamists. Nothing like a heretic in your own church to get your blood boiling. Ever heard of Xeno Paradoxis? With Zarqawi calling Shiites another 'Satan', and with Shiites itching to throw off Sunni domination, then you have an orgy made in heaven. Allah better have a lot of virgins up there, because they're gonna get plenty of incoming. Darwin's Survival of the Fittest. Let all the hyper hormonal freaks remove each other from the gene pool. The rest of us can sip an iced tea.

Cool story, bro.

Somnath temple, Ayodhya temple(birthplace of Lord Rama) and Krishna janma bhumi(birthplace of Lord Krishna) are Hindu equivalents of Mecca, Madina and Jerusalem. 750 years ago 3 grand temples at these sites were ancient wonders. Water from well near Ayodhya temple had medicinal properties. Somnath temple had a huge idol suspended in air without any support(some sort of magnetic principle was supposedly used in its construction). Carved out of volcanic igneous rock with fine sculptures such temples usually took 150 to 200 years to construct. There were trillions of dollars worth gold and precious gems studded in these temples. Hindus believed as long as these gigantic idols of gods and goddesses stood on their land no foreigner can invasion can succeed.

Then came along the muslim invaders. They razed to ground these three and all other major temple complexes like the sun temple in Multan. Plundered the wealth in temples. Butchered the rishis (Hindu priests). They were then replaced by mosques. Source of Hindu spiritual strength was cut off. Net effect was entire subcontinent and Hindu race was enslaved by muslims. Hindus who reign supreme and were almost undefeated for past 5000 years were overran.

Similarly when Taxila and Nalanda universities were razed by muslim invaders Buddhism ceased to exist as a religion in Indian subcontinent. Its so because there cannot be Buddhism without Buddhist monasteries. Buddhist then retreated from India to mountainous regions like Tibet, Bhutan etc.

Based on these past events I ask you to draw the conclusion of what will happen to islam if Mecca, Madina and Jerusalem are nuked.