In case you’re just too optimistic about the state of the war on terror, here’s a downer for you.
I agree this will probably be long and drawn out and we don’t dare give it up lest it fester and grow worse, but I am catiously optimistic that once change starts it will be over quickly. And I really hope that breaking point will happen sooner rather than later, preferably before someone does something stupid with a nuclear weapon.
Not So Fast 
I think if the OT is any indication, there will always be strife in the middle east / Israel. Unfortunately, now we could have strife+nuclear…
No doubt. But there can be strife without terrorism. The terrorism has to stop, especially the terrorism in my country. Keep it in the Middle East, kids.
Added bonus: I think the PLO, Hamas and Hezbollah are edging toward becoming political parties rather than terrorist organizations, if you see what I’m saying. Right now they’re straddling the fence, politics and terror. If they could be sucked into the joy of politics and diplomacy they could keep fighting, just in a more rational manner. You know, civilized like. And I think the change will happen relatively quickly, once it starts. Like the fall of the USSR. One year it was inconceivable, the next year it was done.
This all could just be wishful thinking I admit.
Yeah, I hear ya. It will be a sad day when governments recognize them as political groups. It is also a sad thing that people will defend terrorist orginazations…