Misidentifying the nature of the current war

It is politically incorrect to say that we are at war with Islam. It is also confusing. It is also inaccurate, because even in Iraq and Afghanistan, we've gone to lengths to avoid total war. It is more accurate to say this, though: Large swaths of Islam are at war with us, whether we like it or care to admit it. And by us I do not mean just the United States, but rather the West and all first world nations. We have two choices. We can engage the battle, which again, despite Iraq and Afghanistan, we've barely attempted, and thereby protect our respective homelands. Our other option is to continue to wait, waffle, and equivicate, in which case we will be weakened bit by bit until the day that a truly catastrophic attack takes place, at which time our challenge will be far more grave and all the more difficult than it is even today.