Inherent in the Bush Doctrine is the determination that America in the 21st century should be known as a nation that protects its friends and destroys its enemies. The president has said often that a war against terrorism and the jihadist ideologies that drive terrorism is not a war against Islam. On the contrary, Bush is inviting - imploring - the Islamic world to join the Free World.

"The advance of freedom is the surest strategy to undermine the appeal of terror", Bush said. "Where freedom takes hold, hatred gives way to hope. When freedom takes hold, men and women turn to the peaceful pursuit of a better life."

Bush said America was "Ccommitted to freedom in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and in a peaceful Palestine." In other words, the effort to make peace between the Arabs and Israel also can be seen as a front in the war against terrorism.

The Palestinians need to understand that. Their new prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, a.k.a. Abu Mazen, needs to help them comprehend that there is no way President Bush will support the creation of another terrorist-sponsoring state in the Middle East. They need to accept that it is their responsibility to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism within their communities, and to embrace freedom and democracy.

As Bush stated in his paradigm-shifting speech of last June 24, only after the Palestinians have accomplished that can they expect progress toward independence.