What is the alternative? How do we make Islam not a threat? Do we wage permanent war in the Middle East and keep killing them until there are none left? Do you think if we murder enough people the extremists will eventually give up? Did it ever occur to you that the more damage we do over there the more desperate and susceptible to extremist rhetoric people will become?
The post reveals two major misconceptions.
1) "Do you think if we murder enough people"--Killing terrorists is not murder.
2) "desperate and susceptible to extremist rhetoric"--The extremist rhetoric preceded Western actions. It started with Muhammad and continues today through the teachings of the Koran. In early US history they demanded tribute from Americans at sea, which led to the Barbary Wars. At that time there was no Israel, no "occupations", etc. What was their excuse back then?
Spreading Islam by the sword (or extracting tribute) was the excuse.
I don't know what to do about it but something must be done and the options need to be discussed. My only point in this thread is that ignoring the threat, pretending it doesn't exist, or whining that 'there's nothing we can do!' won't make it go away.