The Road to 9/11

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by Joe_Cool

What's the name of the book?

I don't know, I'll see if I can find out. I just have photocopies and on top of the pages it just says "Appendix".

[garbagemanlb]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

A motive for a behavior does not make it a rational or justifed behavior. If it did our courts would be an interesting place of endless excuses and pleas for sympathy.

Oh, wait! The liberal courts already are just that! How stupid of me?

I never tried to and never would justify terrorism. A motive could give us insight into avoiding future attacks and making progress in our foreign policy, however.

Or is it just because of our freedom that they hate us?

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by garbagemanlb

Or is it just because of our freedom that they hate us?

These are people willing to kill over cartoons. There are much more simplistic reasons they are willing to take out their aggression through murder and it has more to do with differences of culture than anything we have done to them.

[garbagemanlb]

Originally Posted by JaJae

These are people willing to kill over cartoons. There are much more simplistic reasons they are willing to take out their aggression through murder and it has more to do with differences of culture than anything we have done to them.

You honestly believe that we have played no part in their recruiting goals? Have you read what Bin Laden said about the reasons for aggression towards the U.S.?

And 'culture'? What the hell does that mean? Do you mean Muslims? I see plenty of Muslims in the U.S. who are well-adjusted and are just as patriotic as you or I.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by garbagemanlb

You honestly believe that we have played no part in their recruiting goals? Have you read what Bin Laden said about the reasons for aggression towards the U.S.?

And 'culture'? What the hell does that mean? Do you mean Muslims? I see plenty of Muslims in the U.S. who are well-adjusted and are just as patriotic as you or I.

I never said we haven't played a part. What I'm saying is they don't need much of an excuse to go out and kill people. Ridiculing the "they hate us for our freedom" rhetoric completely ignores that fact that there are many people in this world who hate us and are willing to kill us for much smaller and ridiculous reasons than we have freedom. That is their culture. And no, clearly I didn't mean all Muslims or even a large percentage of them. Not all Muslims are running around killing people because they're offended by the West. It is however part of the culture of these radical extremists. They live and breath this culture, quite often from their childhood they are raised with hate of the West and the Jews. It has become an integral part of their culture.

[avsp]

Does global Jihadism have strong support prior to 1979?

What changed to increase the appeal/strength of the cause?

In my view it isnt simply 'in the nature of Islam' or similar. In 60-70s Arab terrorism usually portrayed itself as anti-islamic, pro-socialist but still 'pan-arabic'

Were such groups really global jihadist but merelt pretending to be 'left'? I dont think so.

I suspect that internal palace politics within Saudi were allowed to take a pro-jihadist steps. I fear that the Saudi royals worry about invasion as oil depletes at an ever increasing rate. They want to be able to rev the disruption up & down. Its probably 'got away from them'.

There are other contributary causes obviously. Isreal/Palestine will always rankle & any cause will seek to 'ride' it.

Neither anti-american nor nationalism feeling isnt the exact same thing as Global Jihadism.

Global Jihadists have failed to get mass support from within MENA state to overthrow their dictators, corrupt rulers etc. I think thats why they've chosen to provoke the west instead.