There is no question in my mind that a key reason of Islamic fundamentalism is the impotence felt by the Arabs after the many humiliating defeats at the hands of the (US supported) Israelis. Neither the Arab establishment nor ours will admit this, of course.
Then there should be... Bin Laden stated little to NOTHING about US support for Israel in any of the earlier videos or interviews.
His beef was solely with the presence of US troops on the "holy soil" of Saudi Arabia, propping up the Saudi Royal family (which he is absolutely correct about).. It wasn't until later, when he realized the Muslim world would not rally around such a battle cry, that he started spouting off his advocacy of the Palestinian cause.
And any "impotence" the Arab world feels is due to the corruption and economic ineptitude of their government as well as their misguided causes.
While Israelis focused on developing their economy, as well as defending themselves from Arab aggression, the Arabs focused on the economics of exploitation. They exploited their own people, those nations which discovered and developed their natural resources (through nationalization), and they exploited the predicament of the those living in Palestine for their own cynical purposes.
And for 50 years, the population of Jordan, the majority of which is not Arab, has been ruled absolutely, by an Arab tribe originating from the Hijaz. An Arab tribe who, because they were rivals of the Saudis, were forced into exile and arbitrarily given absolute control over the lives of millions of people who call themselves Palestianians.
Why is there not outrage over that situation?
Israel has few naturual resources, excepts the skills of its people. Jordan has existed longer, had access to direct British military and economic support, yet they chose the path of war and aggression, not economic development.
The same can be said of Egypt, Syria, and so many other Arab nations. They drained their economies to fuel their militant hatred of Israel, while the Israelis focused on developing what little they possessed.
And now they seek to blame everyone but themselves for their problems.
Hawk |
