That seems to be the main point of the British Prime Minister's speech before the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles today. In it, Blair asserted that while nations like Iran and Syria may have to be confronted if they refuse to play by international rules, he seemed to commend a policy of containment of radical Islam akin to the successful four-decade approach taken by the US, Britain, and other western democracies toward the former Soviet Union.Mr Blair spoke of how he believed "global extremism" should be tackled.
"To defeat it will need an alliance of moderation that paints a different future in which Muslim, Jew and Christian, Arab and Western, wealthy and developing nations can make progress in peace and harmony.
"We will not win the battle against this global extremism unless we win it at the level of values as much as force, unless we show we are even-handed, fair and just in our application of those values to the world."
He said this "unconventional" war must be won through these values.
"This war can't be won in a conventional way, it can only be won by showing that our values are stronger, better and more just, more fair than the alternatives," he said.
Blair expressed a desire to see a rapid end to hostilities in Lebanon.
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