For the Edwards thesis to have merit, he would have to rewrite most of the history of the past five-and-a-half years. He would have to erase virtually all of the day-to-day activity of the war on terror, which as a practical matter consists of unprecedented levels of cooperation and integrated planning across scores of countries, both long-time allies and new partners. But Senator Edwards seems quite willing to engage in that kind of revisionism.

At the same time, it is deeply unwise, and quite dangerous, to underplay the role of the military when facing an enemy that is ruthless, cunning, and merciless. To argue that we are engaged in a metaphorical war when our enemy is engaged in a real one is an invitation to disaster and defeat.

Islamic jihadists have shown, in their words and deeds, that they want to kill Americans and destroy secularism and pluralism in the Muslim world. They have embraced a culture of death -- and they intend to make us a part of it. And yet it appears that some in our nation, and others in the Western world, do not fully grasp the nature of the enemy and all that lies in the balance. They do not, deep in their bones, believe we are at war. And at too many opportunities along the way, they are taking steps that impede (even unknowingly) our efforts to wage and win the war against militant Islam.

Senator Edwards also says we need to "reengage the world with the full weight of our moral leadership." What Senator Edwards doesn't tell us is how his desire to precipitiously and immediately withdraw from Iraq, after having voted in favor of war with Iraq[1][1], would demonstrate "moral leadership." How would the genocide and rivers of blood that would follow an American retreat, to say nothing of granting an unprecedented victory to Islamic jihadists and betraying those who have stood with America and for liberty, advance the moral good?

Senator Edwards says a lot in his speech -- but one thing he fails to say is perhaps as revealing as anything else. In a speech of more than 5,200 words, he can barely bring himself to say a single critical thing about the terrorists that attacked our nation, killed thousands of our citizens, and who are waging war against us even now, in Iraq and across the globe. One might think that John Edwards could muster considerable moral outrage against al Qaeda and its deadly acts -- but one would be wrong.

It makes one wonder if Senator Edwards takes seriously the words and deeds of Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zawahiri, the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and so many others? Does he understand that they, not America, are responsible for killing American soldiers and innocent Iraqis and attempting to turn Iraq into a terrorist base? Does he grasp the fact that they want to impose a caliphate that spans from Spain to Indonesia? Has he seen the videos that show innocent people having their heads sliced off by jihadists, with joyful shouts of "Allah Akbar" accompanying the slayings? You wouldn't know these things, at least based on Senator Edwards's Council on Foreign Relations address.

We are in a race with terrorists who have declared war on America. That race will have one of two outcomes: either we will defeat them, or they will kill many, many more of us. I'm grateful our commander-in-chief is committed to hunting down and destroying these jackals, who are at once savage, malignant, remorseless, and determined. We have prevailed against their kind before; we will do so again. But only because of leaders who understand the gravity of the threat and the stakes of the struggle.