We know, because they say so, that they don't believe Iraq is part of the war on terror. To them, it is truly a civil war that we have largely caused by our unjust ouster of Saddam and our prolonged, provocative "occupation" of that country. The sectarian strife and violent opposition to the burgeoning Iraqi government is being caused by our "occupation," as opposed to Al Qaeda and Iran, and will probably end upon our withdrawal.

They believe either the terrorists are so few in number as not to constitute a global threat or that they are only directing their terrorism against us because of our policies, a matter on which they seem to sympathize with the terrorists.

They don't understand that people who engage in terrorism don't need provocation, that their terrorism is ideologically and theologically based and that it will not stop or be redirected away from the United States no matter what accommodating policy changes we make.

We are the great Satan that represents a cultural, ideological, theological, political and military obstacle to their goal of worldwide domination. Unless we submit or convert, they will not relent; indeed their theology commands them not to, no matter how much we tailor our policies to accommodate them.

Democrats obviously don't believe our precipitous withdrawal from Iraq will strengthen the terrorists' ability to wage war against us. Curiously, however, key antiwar Democrats are now saying they would not recommend a complete withdrawal from Iraq, but would keep a residual force there to prevent Al Qaeda from using it as a safe haven.

Sorry to break the news to them, but preventing Al Qaeda from establishing a permanent beachhead in Iraq for terrorist operations is one of the main reasons for the surge. They will be able to operate out of Iraq unless we keep sufficient forces there until the Iraqi security forces are able to assume primary responsibility for maintaining the security and protecting the new government -- however long that takes.

The Democratic leadership simply will not be on board to help us protect ourselves against this global jihadist threat as long as they grossly underestimate its nature and scope and until they subordinate their partisan interests to the national interest. Sadly, President Bush will have to persevere without their help and over their opposition.