Why we are losing the Iraq war and the war on terror and how we can win

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Why we are losing the Iraq war and the war on terror and how we can win (12/4/06)

Glen's symposium comes at a good time for me, following a few weeks of this slow realization of exactly how large of a problem the Iraq war and the war on terror is and how little we are doing about it. The problem is we're still fighting a regular war. A decent percentage of humanity is on the enemy side, though not necessarily by choice, and yet we still persist in treating this like anything other than what it truly is: a world war. Before you're knee-jerk reaction kicks in, stop and consider the number of places with the struggle on their doorstep:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Britain
Chechnya
Egypt
France
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Lebanon
Pakistan
Palestine
Spain
Sudan
Etc.

The level of sophistication of the enemy grows in leaps and bounds daily and who here can honestly say they know what North Korea/Iran dynamic is up to? This simply isn't a problem we can effectively counter with a run-of-the-mill war. Run-of-the-mill wars display our military prowess but it's rare to see anything that falls into WWI/WWII caliber such as:

Truth be told, it's only that caliber of plans and projects that will see the West win this war. The best way to win in Iraq is to recognize that, and fit Iraq into the bigger picture. We all know there is the short term and long term welfare of Iraq. None of the plans I have seen effectively address the long term problem. Radical Islam will plague Iraq, the region at large, and the West until it is stopped dead. The sooner we realize that and act accordingly the sooner we will get out of Iraq.

Principally:

Support and reinforce the religious middle, focusing on the Islamic middle.
Usher in a new understanding of international law based on national sovereignty, threats to it, and preemptive action to safeguard it when preexisting conditions have been reached.
Solve the conditions that permit Radical Islam to exist, such as poverty, the lack of "rule of law", and the Israeli/Palestinian situation. Frameworks exist to accomplish these seemingly impossible tasks, as do the people capable of doing so.

The military side of the war effort is then driven from those principles in geopolitical locales where direct force is needed, however much work can be done outside of military channels. Under such a war, Iraq would become an important bellwether of our overall success. The "exit strategy" will present itself from that point, such as the Iraqi people and government reaching self sufficiency and asking us to leave because we are unneeded.

Does it seem impossible? You bet. That's what makes it a world war. Currently we're losing. Are there shades of the Vietnam War in what I am suggesting? In some ways, yes, but that is what I am trying to address. This war's primary enemy has been it's lack of clear origins. That has fractured ourselves and our allies. It's time to refocus and get this done. I have a number of ideas which can help posted below.

Update (Feb. 6, 2007): Finally, a hint. A brain trust brought together by Gen. Petraeus. I'm calling it Petraeus Park... Officers With PhDs Advising War Effort.