Just a question, I hope you all dont jump at my throat Options

[Too Exclusive]

Here's an honest question. I hope you guys don't think that asking questions is terrorist-like behavior.

If it's in Muslim religion to hate christians and to kill them, why have terrorism/suicide bombers/terrorist attacks only been going on for 20 years, when Islam and Christianity have been around for thousands of years?

I hope you guys can actually ANSWER this instead of jumping at my throat and telling me to shut the fuck up like you usually do.

This post has been edited by Too Exclusive: 08/08/05 5:46pm

[Blakjak]

All this talk about the Koran makes me think of how complex the Bible is and how strongly people cling to it. I believe personally there are several factors at work.

First, the growing dependence on middle eastern oil in the 20th century forced the West to take a more active role in the region, which was not warmly received. Sure, it has improved some areas, like Qatar, but our insatiable appetite for oil as a country has not created a healthy diplomacy.

Second, the resurrection of a Jewish state in Palestine which was and still is backed by the United States. Yes, the Jews once occupied the region, but so did Christians, Pagans, and cavemen. This is not to undermine the importance of a Jewish homeland however, which was practically necessitated by intense European anti-Semitism of the early 20th Century and the Holocaust (not to mention guaranteed by the British Balfour Declaration).

Third, the cold war in several ways. The arms race and subsequent proliferation (notably assualt rifles and rpgs) made waging war and terrorism significantly easier. The Cold War was also a massive distraction, during which smaller problems worsened while the United States and the Soviet Union squared off. A good example is the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a disaster partially due to the fact that it was a neglected problem that grew out of control, and then was underestimated. Lastly, the alliances formed by each country during the war to form blocs has backfired numerous times (Taliban being an excellent example).

Fourth, a persistent lack of directed, focused long-term strategic planning on both economic and military issues from our country's elected officials. Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and W have all suffered from this problem in some way. Case in point, Reagan's Star Wars defense programs that flooded Europe with military firepower in and ultimately successful ploy to bankrupt the Soviet Union. We (as in largely my generation) will be paying the economic consequences of the Reagan administration's decision for decades if not longer.

This post has been edited by Blakjak: 08/09/05 5:28pm

[holden_caulfield]

I think it is all about oil and power. Look at who is in charge in the middle east--rich oil barons educated in the West. They are corrupt, and, like anyone in power, they want to stay in power. But since they're country is so backward and shitty, to put it bluntly, they need something which will rally their people and distract them from the shittiness of their own lives--hence Israel. The Palestinians have a legitimate problem with Isreal. The Saudis, Jordanians, Egyptians, etc, do not. They are just using that to direct domestic anger abroad.

Notice that those carrying out the jihads are ill-educated and easily deceived. Those that manipulate are not. You don't see many guys high on the social ladder going out and strapping bombs to themselves.