However, I subscribe to a different argument, one which will no doubt make me a "neocon" in the eyes of many. It is my belief that Osama and those who follow him follow a totalitarian ideology that is very similar to Nazism. They feel it is their duty to spread a political and cultural revolution across the entire world, not just in the Middle East, but all the way to Los Angeles as well. This web page gives a great background as to what Islamic fundamentalists (e.g. Wahhabism) believe in:
libforall.org;
This is disturbing. The title of the website is called Promoting the Culture of Liberty and Tolerance Worldwide, and yet, the website is doing anything but that. Plus, its intentionally misleading. The current Islamic movement is nothing knew. Islamic theocracy has always had some following in the ME....for hundred of years. However, the majority over and over again have come down against it. That's why a significant number of Muslim countries are not theocracies.
As for totalitarianism, that's always been common. For many different reasons, Muslims have not gone the route of democracy.....at least not yet. However, its not them who are trying to spread their way of life to us, but the US trying to spread its way of life to them.
You need to learn the history of Islam. You views have been badly colored by the crazies of the world. Fundamentalist Muslims are much the same as fundamentalist Christians. And BTW never once in all the interviews I have read about OBL has he said once he wants to rule the world.
Thus to them, a Western withdrawal from the Middle East would only be regarded as a retreat and an opportunity to expand their power base. That's not seeking common ground, nor is it even giving an inch. That's giving a mile to people who pretty much want to see us dead. And I'd rather not wait until that point just to say, "I told you so."
I don't understand why you are so susceptible to this garbage.
Let me leave you with this. Mavis Leno, the wife of Jay Leno, was a crusader of women's rights in Afghanistan long before 9/11. Do you think she should get out of the Middle East just because you think Osama wants us out?
Only if the Afghans want her out even if it flies in the face of Western beliefs. Why can't you be tolerant of the POV of other cultures?
ted |
