How Low Do We Go? by Thomas Barnett

Quoting the NIE report, "The Iraq conflict has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement."

You want to know what this estimate would say if Saddam was still in power?

It would read, "The Afghan conflict has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement."

You want to know what this estimate would say if the Taliban were still in power?

It would read, "America's support for the Musharref regime in Pakistan has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement.

And if Musharref was gone?

It would read, "America's military assistance to Israel in its conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement."

And if Israel was gone?

It would read, "America's emergency support to the Mubarek regime has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement."

And if the Muslim Brotherhood controlled Egypt?

It would read, "America's rescue of the House of Saud has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement."

And if the Salafi jihadists got control of Saudi Arabia?

It would read, "America's support to Iran in the emerging conflict with the Salafi jihadist front of Arab states has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement."

Is there anyone out there naive enough to believe the Salafi jihadist movement has ever been without a 'cause celebre'?

How low would we need to go to avoid pissing off the Salafi jihadists? To stop their women-hating, bloodthirsty reign of terror desired to enslave as much of the world as possible?

Let's give 'em a 'cause celebre' every day of the week.