many intelligent posts don't see the significance of 9/11
And what does that tell you?
9/11 was important to the Americans, most of whom did not realize until that moment that there was a war elsewhere on this planet, in which their successive governments had been taken sides and hence making enemies. Americans thought they were infallible, that they were too far away from all that misery to be touched by it. 9/11 brought the war home to Americans. That is the only thing that changed - the illusion of being untouchable was shattered.
Their tribal mentality defines all Americans as their enemy and therefore deserving" of retaliation.
Try to understand, Fred, that America IS their enemy, for America SIDED with their enemies for a long long time. America supports Israel big time. America stops medication from reaching Iraqi children. America is buddies with their oppressive regimes for oil while preaching democracy elsewhere.
(I know, I know. I am just giving you their point of view)
"just as they kill us, we shall kill them." It is a holy duty within Islam to commit to the Jihad until the world is converted.
The quote has little to do with the sentence you it follow up with - Bin Ladin's quote refers to America giving the arms to Israelis so that they can kill Palestinians, etc.
As for the second sentence, I think you misunderstand the jihad a little bit. It does not concern making holy war until the world is converted to Islam. Had that been true, there would be wars all around in the past millenium. Or the Ottoman Empire would not leave the Balkans and all of Europe east of Vienna Christian after having conquered these places.
The parts in the Quran that talk about fighting non-Muslims are in the context of actual wars that they were fighing at the time. It is not about forcibly converting your neighbour or something.
I see a lot of misinformation on this issue, aimed at generating a consensus in the west to support a war, I fear.
To repeat, IMO, Bush has gotten the inspectors in and there hasn't been a war.
Out of curiousity - do you think there will be a war nontheless?
I am concerned that, just as the constant wars with the Arabs have transformed Israel from an idealistic socialist state into a militaristic one, Bush will do the same
I agree. He already uses the war to further his political position and support base.
Bush seems to have a limited repertoire of responses
Hence the reason why the world calls him a moron. A more intelligent person should have better analyses and more subtle responses that would lead the world towards consensus and security. |
