Mideast peace: It could take 100 years or more

In the late 1700s, Barbary Coast pirates plagued shipping routes along the Mediterranean coastline. These were Muslim pirates attacking Christian ships for theft, ransom, slaves or whatever else they could gain.

There was strong debate among affected nations as to how to respond: Keep paying ransoms, or fight them.

President Jefferson eventually sent the Marines. (They kicked butt.) But John Adams had a different opinion. In 1787 he said, “We should not fight them (Muslims) at all unless we determine to fight them forever.”

In a recent letter the writer laments that we can’t just sit down and negotiate a peace. But we can’t reach a political solution with a religious ideology. There can only be peace if the world converts to Islam and Sharia Law.

It’s too late to heed Adams’ advice and avoid conflict. You’ve heard of the Hundred Years War? This may take longer.

One side or the other has to surrender, and a religion really can’t. Even a military victory like World War II probably wouldn’t bring an end.

Islam will have to decide to coexist. Then we can sit down and talk.