Political Islam- it is the way of people of Islamic countries to gain power against the dictators which are imposed on them with the support of USA and other western countries. It is not a pro-active, rather a reactive state in the Muslim world. The dictators like shah of Iran, Saudi kings, Mubarik, Asad, Saddam (until he broke the ranks)and Musharraf etc, which stifled the democratic forces in their own countries with the support of US. It created a vacuum which was filled by the Islamic parties. Bush and Sharon sidelined Arafat and Hammas benefited from the situation.

USA has to stop supporting dictators and stop shunning the Islamic parties. The only way to bring back moderate forces in Islamic world is to engage with parties like Hezabollah, Hammas and Iran. Let them run their course. When people find real democracy and freedom in Islamic world, political Islam will end without blood shed by the help of its own people.

Having been around since before the CIA ousted Mossedech(sp?), the democratically elected head of Iran, and replaced him with the brutal tyrant Shah Reza, I am impressed mostly by the seemingly unbroken series of blunders committed by my government. I was in Iran shortly before their revolution, and we were roundly hated. No surprise. This was followed by a refusal to negotiate with Iran over the years. The Iranis were hoping for some international contact and I believe it would have been possible. It is still not too late. But,it seems my government is more interested in stable dictators for corporate interests than standing for peace and democracy.
I also followed Israel's actions since the 1968 war. Their actions never made peace except through subjegation of populations.
The United States stayed out of these conflicts for many years. We should turn the ship and withdraw our forces to our best interests. (Kurdistan wouldn't be a bad place to start). In military terms, this would be called "strategic withdrawal"
Actually, we will not be able to control the outcome, either in Iraq or Lebanon. Keeping close by, however, would not be bad idea. And sticking with our allies may help with progress. We can at least try to stop regional war.

Sid

I think the failures and unexpected reverberations of Israel's current missadventure on Lebanon wont be so different than what Americans have achieved so far in Iraq,i.e., more Maihem and anarchy. Perhaps the future of Arab world is not political Islam but political anarchy.

This does seem to be the most lightly outcome. Althought I would'ent rule out a settling of accounts with there political enemies in Lebanon.
Hezzbullah might disarm if this would mean a controling stake in the Lebanonese military, there have been many compromies in resent years.
A hezzbullah intergrated into the military
could be another.
As an example for other disempowered groups in the middle east, the growth in shia power in Lebanon has had a hugh effect. Until the 1970's the shia, the largest religious group was politicaly powerless, now it is by far the most important political and military community in the country. They will never allow things to return to the way they were, Israel and america and the rest of the Lebanonese will have to learn to live with this reality. It is not impossible to imagine a future without war. Hezzbullahs agenda is local, they are not Al Queada.
You can negotiate with them in good faith.

Sounds like a pretty dim future in light of what political Islam has brought humanity thus far. Let's see - we had Afganistan's Taliban which was a total disaster until disaster was brought unto themselves for their support of Al-Qaeda. There is Iran which has been a source of global instability ever since the mullahs took over. Hamas has put the popular agenda aside and replaced it with one inciting perpetual conflict and a hard-line policy ensuring even greater suffering for the Palestinian people. I think the Arabs should look at political Islam's track record before adopting it and its subsequent catastrophe.

yup!