Proving your point by example may not shut everyone up, but it will make your remaining naysayers cease to matter.

So code it up already. And let's see it run. And then let's see the cheering throngs in Baghdad, so to speak.

Yeah, it's a lot of work. But you've had friggin' years.

Which reminds me: the remaining naysayers will attempt to shift their position after the fact. "Well, we never said it wouldn't compile and run without segfaulting" or some such. Make sure you define what constitutes success beforehand and up front, and hold everyone to it.