Ted, that is well written post. Here are my comments,
Re <<I could see how a sane, rational person could justify the attack>>
I require some shred of humanity to be considered "sane" or "rational". I don't think Bin Laden qualifies.
Re <<So the people that we see in the streets cheering bin Laden on are not representative of the majority?>>
In Iran, absolutely not. In Palestinian refugee camp, I hope not.
Re <<But doesn't bin Laden have great appeal to the Muslim kid growing up in the slums of Bagdad or Kabul?>>
I don’t have a good feel for that. My guess is that kids in slums of Bagdad and Kabul are most concerned about getting something to eat and staying alive. And those kids have no exposure to anything other than what they are thought in school. Likely little kids in Bagdad hate United States, but they may not know anything about Bin Ladden. Not sure.
Re <<What part of Saudi Arabia is the holy land....is it just Mecca? >>
Mainly Mecca and Medina. Muhammad (Islam profit) was born in Medina but was forced to travel to Mecca where he built the house of worship for all Moslems. Most say that one trip to Mecca during a lifetime is mandatory of all Moslems.
Re <<Were we to pull out of the middle east completely, including ending our support of Israel, do you think that the Muslim terrorists would back off?>>
I don’t know. My guess is yes.
Re <<What's your thought re my concern that if we kill bin Laden, we turn him into a martyr? This man is very dangerous...to his people he is a saint, and to the West and other Muslims, he's the devil. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.>>
I disagree. I think he is devil of all devils. What he is doing is against all teaching of Islam. Even worse, he is turning people misfortune and misery into hatred and unending cycle of violence. It does not get much lower than that. Based on my experience, I can excuse (well not really) Palestinians cheering in refugee camp, but what Bin Ladden is doing is pure evil. |
