Our fumbling government's response since Beirut - during both Republican and Democratic administrations - has been to cut and run, or to flat ignore this growing threat, apparently hoping it would go away.

Grunts on the line, where the enemy wants them dead, still goof off - even knowing that by letting their guard down they might die.

That's because international Islamic religious fanatics have the same goal as the Axis fascists - the destruction of our way of life.

Our generals talk a good game about taking care of their grunts, and the majority of our Beltway politicians bay with moralistic fervor about how they, too, support the troops.