Quote Originally Posted by Seamus Fermanagh View Post
Iraq II -- complete with having to fight incursions by our allies!

There is no political will to do this in the USA, nor are the resources really lined up for it with major committments in Iraq and Afgnanistan ongoing.

Sadly, I think a combo of your idea, Pan, with Kukri's, is the only recipe that might work. Israel will kill comparitively few yanks, and with enough resources and time the FBI would eventually marginalize the more criminal/terroristic elements of Hamas etc. Of course, the whole thing would be a boon to other terrorist recruiting efforts elsewhere as we would be seen as reincarnating the Crusader kingdom. Ah, the joys of the Middle East.
The main problem with Iraq is the democratic BS I talked about. Everyone knows that the US will eventually leave, so they fight to get into position to control Iraq once they eventually do. So start by establishing that this isn't an effort to create a democracy in Palestine, which will be handed over to the Palestinians ASAP. The west, whichever body decides to take control, is there to stay. It is there because they don't trust the Palestinians to govern their country to their satisfaction. Would it boost terrorist recruiting efforts? Probably, but is the difference between that and existing recruiting efforts really worth the continuing instability?