Two further thoughts

Two further thoughts on this issue of Islamic terrorism:

1. Despite Washington's  tendency to see this as a military conflict, this not primarily a military conflict, even though military force may have occasional uses in special circumstances.  This is primarily a clash of ideas, and that is the arena in which we ought to be fighting it if we want to be effective. We have killed innumerable militant leaders and all that happens is that new ones spring up to take their place. We have killed innumerable jihadist fighters and all that happens is that yet more get recruited to take their place.

2. With respect to (1) above, a favorite saying comes to mind: "You can always get to people through religion. Their religion, not yours!"