Winning wars takes more than decapitation strikes

LA Times:
Why killing terrorist leaders doesn't necessarily wipe out their organizations
In history, there are a few examples of when taking out a leader ends a conflict, but they are rare.  To win a war you have to convince the enemy that his cause is hopeless.  That is how most wars end.

You have to put them in a position where they know that whatever they try, they cannot win.  One of the problems in doing that with radical Islamists is their belief that Allah is on their side if they are radical enough in pushing a conquest for him.

There is a reluctance on the part of many in the West to take on this aspect of the enemies belief system because they think it will alienate other Muslims who are not part of the fight.  That is why this war has been around in ebbs and flows for centuries.  One thing I am sure of is that pandering to Islam only encourages the enemy to believe that there is hope for his vision.  Bin Laden bragged after the 9-11 attacks that people in the US were buying Korans.


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