A big part of the problem in all of these discussions about terrorism is that we cannot all agree on the motivation of the terrorists.

Is it to wipe us completely off the face of the earth, or

Is it to convert us, religiously speaking, to some brand of Muslim fundamentalism, or

Is it simply to get us out of the Middle East and leave these people alone?

I'm not sure myself, and I don't think that anyone can rightly claim to be sure either, since terrorists become terrorists for different reasons.

All this stuff, though, about "honor killings" appears to be a cultural thing - since it is and has been practiced by many different religions and cultures of the world for hundreds of years - and absolutlely not a practice limited to Muslim Fundamentlists.

And while I don't condone the practice of course, I also think it's dangerous to talk about eliminating cultures that are different from ours, unless you think that the goal of that culture is to completely eliminate us.

Personally, I don't believe that to be the goal of the terrorist organizations of the world.

They need us to buy their oil and support their economies, and they're smart enough to realize that the idea of wiping everyone off the face of the earth who does not agree with their religious beliefs is a totally unrealistic one.

I believe that this is all way more about politics than it is about religion