Strategy

For those who doubt President Bush has a comprehensive strategy in the War on Islamist Terror, read the remarks he delivered today at the National Endowment for Democracy. I've reprinted a few snippets here, but it's worthwhile to read it all:

...

Some call this evil Islamic radicalism; others, militant Jihadism; still others, Islamo-fascism. Whatever it's called, this ideology is very different from the religion of Islam. This form of radicalism exploits Islam to serve a violent, political vision: the establishment, by terrorism and subversion and insurgency, of a totalitarian empire that denies all political and religious freedom. These extremists distort the idea of jihad into a call for terrorist murder against Christians and Jews and Hindus -- and also against Muslims from other traditions, who they regard as heretics.

...

We didn't ask for this global struggle, but we're answering history's call with confidence, and a comprehensive strategy. Defeating a broad and adaptive network requires patience, constant pressure, and strong partners in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and beyond. Working with these partners, we're disrupting militant conspiracies, destroying their ability to make war, and working to give millions in a troubled region of the world a hopeful alternative to resentment and violence.

• First, we're determined to prevent the attacks of terrorist networks before they occur....
• Second, we're determined to deny weapons of mass destruction to outlaw regimes, and to their terrorist allies who would use them without hesitation....
• Third, we're determined to deny radical groups the support and sanctuary of
  outlaw regimes....
• Fourth, we're determined to deny the militants control of any nation, which
  they would use as a home base and a launching pad for terror....
• The fifth element of our strategy in the war on terror is to deny the
  militants future recruits by replacing hatred and resentment with democracy and hope across the broader Middle East. This is a difficult and long-term project, yet there's no alternative to it....