Those looking for the "root causes" of Islamic terrorism imply that there is something reasonable that the West could do to avoid making some people into bombers and assassins. If only we were less aggressive ... if we understood their culture more sensitively ... if we withdrew non-Muslims from Saudi Arabia ... if we were more even-handed with Israel and Palestine ... if we were less prosperous (Jean Chretien's theory), etc., etc.
Well, the United States and Canada went to war twice in the 1990s to protect Muslims from Christian aggressors (Bosnia and Kossovo) but 9/11 didn't seem to reflect any deep well of Islamic gratitude.
The United States announced it was pulling its bases from Saudi Arabia but terror bombers murdered American civilians there anyway.
The United States pressured Israel into making concessions for the "road-map to peace" but the hate-filled Islamic press continues to spew anti-American fables. Try this Saudi editorial that calls Jerry Falwell a terrorist or this Iranian one that says President Bush will outdo Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini or this Lebanese article expressing joy at the destruction of the space-shuttle Columbia. My particular favourite is an Egyptian editorial asserts that Condoleeza Rice has 'damaged the world of the blacks,' and 'is suited only to work at a nightclub or to make her bed in the heart of the jungles'
Russia and Pakistan both opposed American intervention in Iraq but Islamic terrorists attacked each country last week anyway, bravely choosing to blow up a rock concert and a mosque.
And in a totally unrelated atrocity, a Minnesota woman has been charged with murder and attempted murder for allegedly throwing her twin infants into the Mississippi. The names of these tots: Sincere Understanding Allah and Supreme Knowledge Allah.
Posted by at July 7, 2003 06:13 PM