As a Nader voter, I sympathize with Phil Schwadel's ideas. Reform must be pursued to lessen discrimination, increase economic opportunity, and close the income gap. But Schwadel is dangerously incorrect about this war. For all the jingoism of the Republican administration, their underlying assumption is correct: This is a matter of survival for our civilization. This is not a racist or imperialist war. It is a war of self-defense and necessary pre-emption, because the threat posed here is as real as the WTC ruins.

What should our response have been? Warm their hearts with our exemplary liberalism? We're not talking about Europe with a tradition of individual rights and democracy. Arab societies truly are offended by the way we live our lives.

The hijackers were not oppressed Palestinians or sanctions-starved Iraqis. They were well-off, educated men who'd had extensive contact with the Western world. Bin Laden himself spent his youth as a hedonistic playboy having his way with drugs and women. He then recoiled into a shell of fundamentalism, disgusted and guilty after experiencing the excess and immorality of the West first hand.

Dreams for a progressive worldwide community are enticing, but some gaps cannot be bridged by friendly persuasion.

This is a true existential clash, not a capitalist charade. That's the blunt, naked and disturbing truth, and the sooner Americans accept it with no illusions, the sooner we can attack the problem.