Evil will never be defeated till Jesus Christ comes back. Islamic terrorism has been in this world for over 1400 years, and will continue long after George W. Bush is gone from the Whitehouse.
Perhaps that signals a reason to 'give up on the world' and 'hasten its end' with a vote for John Kerry... but for me... I see the command to "occupy till I come". I see that God created us stewards of this world, and we are continue in that role till the master's return.
Luk 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
I also see the commmand to 'go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature'.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
I choose to continue acting as God's faithful steward until his 2nd coming... until his return. Regardless of the circumstances and what appears around me, I will serve faithfull until He comes again so that he can say "well done thou good and faithful servent".
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matthew 25 is the parable of the 3 stewards. The first two used what God gave them to advance their master's kingdom (the talents representing the material realm or 'kingdom in the earth'). The last one did NOT advance the kingdom of God with what they were given and was cast out.
This goes foundationally to why we are here - why we were created. This is to be God's steward to creation... God's representatives to rule on his behalf. We are created in His very image also to facilitate this.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Incidentally, this will also be our role for eternity... to serve the purpose for which we were created. You might as well begin fulfilling your purpose here now in advancing the Kingdom of God in all matters:
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.