I don't know how good an idea your approach to solving this problem is or not. But I will most certainly agree with you that the most botched part of this war is communication with the public in general, both our public and theirs. No matter how one feels about Bush, I think we can all agree that his constant secrecy is not helping anything. Let's open up communication for sure!
 

Derek,

I like your ideas and the mindset that something could be done with the "Power of Suggestion" is certainly interesting. However, in the situation that we find ourselves in, in the Middle East is something that cannot be resolved. Not only is there no end in sight for the terrorists, there is no end in sight for America and our allies.

America is stuck in this quagmire and there is nothing, immediately, that we can do to end it.

I'm not sure what you're political affiliation is, but right or left, this war is not winnable. The Sunni and the Shia have been fighting for years. They've been fighting since Abu Bakr became the successor to Muhammad. Even if we were to "win" this war, the Sunni and the Shia would continue their conflict.

I certainly do not know what it is like to be in the Middle East fighting but at this point, if there was a non-violent strategy, I think that a propagandist approach would be the most significant way in which said strategy could be achieved.

The Bush Administration has shoved "Pro-War" propaganda down America's throat since the attacks on September 11th, 2001. Why not shove "Pro-Love" or "Pro-Peace" propaganda down the throats of our enemy? The reason that wouldn't work, is due to the fact that it wouldn't be advantageous to the Special Interest groups who have been contracted to make this war possible. Without war, there would be no bottom line. With no bottom line, Bush, his evil administration and the corporations that they serve would not make money from the blood of American soldiers.

There is no clear answer. For me, the only thing that I personally can do, is do everything that I can to help Barack Obama become the next President of the United States. Even if he can't end the war, we will be taking a few steps in the right direction to end this war as opposed to many steps in the wrong direction.

Although I think your idea of an online petition to rent billboards is interesting, I have a feeling that corporations like Viacom and Clearchannel are the owners of those billboards. I have no evidence to back that up but those two conglomerates are the largest advertising agencies in the world. Being two of the largest, I would assume that they have interests in this war.

I don't mean for this to sound pessimistic, but that is the nature of this unnecessary war. Do I think that it is a good idea to promote "love" and "Peace?" Absolutely. Do I think that in this case, it would actually work? Unfortunately, no.
 

Derek- cool post, i thought of something similar I've always wanted to do: Take a projector and do a Drive-In style Theater showing of Sound of Music. ha. The hills are alive man!
Though psychological attempts definitely cannot hurt, as I believe Love & Patience wins, the problem is the radicals are deaf. Evil is Evil.