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For now: Nothing.

Our last best chance was supporting the anti-al-Qaeda locals. We tried that. But they lost.

If we now go in militarily, we'd get our heads handed to us. The area is just too anti-U.S.

Reminder:
Following the 9/11 attacks, I pointed out that the War on Terror would be decided on how that war was perceived by the world, especially by the Islamic world. If the war is seen (as it truly is) as religious fanatics vs. civilization, we'll win in a walk. But if bin Laden is successful in portraying it as Islam vs. Christian, then we'd end up in an endless, bloody stalemate.

The Grand Diverstion:
Bin Ladin's side got its biggest boost when Bush took his eye off of al Qaeda and attacked Iraq, a nation which, up until then, had been an enemy of al Qaeda (even tho Iraq was providing financial support to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers). Now, U.S. troops are almost universally referred to in the Arab nations as "The Occupiers." And the specter of an Islam vs. Christian war looms.

We need to walk the tightrope of (a) withdrawing our combat troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible while (b) not permitted the duly elected government of Iraq to fall. This is one nasty balancing act, but not impossible.

Although al-Qaeda has now established itself in Iraq, and has some allies who want to both (a) drive the U.S. out of Iraq and (b) attack the U.S., most of the insurgents fall into three other groups whose main focus is on driving the U.S. out.

Some are Baathists who want to return to the old regime. Some are Shitte nationalists, who want the U.S. out so they can establish a fundamentalist state a la Iran. And some are Iraqi nationalists, who just want the U.S. out.

So...once U.S. combat troops are out, these last three groups will have no further interest in the U.S. Because the current Iraqi govenment represents Iraqis, and the majority of Iraqis are Shitte, the Iraqi nationalists and the Shitte nationalists will find the current Iraqi govenment to be an attractive alternative to civil war.

This will lead to a final showdown between government forces on one side and Baathists and al-Qaeda on the other. This war could well be winnable.

Then Somilia:
Only after we establish our bona fides in Iraq, by withdrawing with no oil grants to ourselves and without leaving a puppet regime, will we regain the credibility to lead a war of civilization against religious fanatics.

That's when we can start making headway in Somolia. This is a "war" we can win using blue jeans, rock & roll, MP3 players, Hollywood movies and the internet. It's a war we can win using freedom and prosperity as lures because al-Qaeda's bloodsoaked manifesto is one of hatred and poverty.