9/11 coverup?

[Occhidiangela]

Thinking you can defeat Islamic terrorists by only using force is a little but simplistic. You kill one and two other will step into the place. Not until you remove the reasons Islamic extremism exists you can start to realy eliminate the terrorist groups (they are already beyond the pale and will probably never listen te reason anymore).

You have just put your finger, I think unintentionally, on the matter. This is a conflict like the Cold War in that a power block, well funded Islamicists, wish to change the way the world works while the US and some of its allies wish to move forward with human social development, not backwards. Others sit and watch.

Your assumption that there will be 2 more rise up for each killed is unproven, and in fact smacks of having read a great deal of Arab propaganda. On the other hand, I have good reason to believe that Iran has an interest in ensuring the US stays focused on Iraq so that less of a heat lamp will shine on them. Hence, active recruiting and support for the fighters in Iraq is in their interest.

Your comments also appear to assume a monolithic influence by the Islamacists. There are more than two camps of thought in the Islamic world, and your drawing a conclusion like that is like asserting that Manchester United has won the game when up 1 - 0 over Newcastle with 42 minutes to play. This is a work in progress.

Killing off certain elements is necessary, but a great deal of effort must be spend via non violent means. On that we will absolutely agree. However, the population pressure, that would be manageable with intelligent birth control, will not cease anytime soon due to imbedded societal norms in many Muslim lands.

You suggest that the non violent methods are not happening in your post, which shows a very narrow view of what is actually going on politically. The political, economic, and informational avenues have been engaged for some time, and since at least 1991 in the Gulf region, actually, for quite a while before that.

What you should do to cut of the feeding ground?

How do you stop people from hating, for blaming others for their condition? I don't know.

I'm no expert in this field but is suspect it has something to do with endemic corrupt autocratic regimes, a large inferiority complex and 'perceived 'unfair' policies against 'Islamic people'. Rather complex and difficult to deal with. I dont see in the current American policies much idea how to deal with this.

I think you are spot on, the perception being fed by the global media and selected propaganda machines. As to the American policy, how well versed are you in it?

Sure, Saddam Hoessein was a corrupt evil bastard but by occupying Iraq you only increase the feeding ground.

That goes to the heart of the matter. The longer we are there fighting, the more folks will think "he was a sonofabitch, but he was OUR sonofabitch."


Afghanistan was usefull, but has the number of terrorists dwindled? I dont see the Bush adminstration putting serious pressure on the governments of Saoudi Arabia, Egypt or whatever to consider serious reforms.

You don't see it, therefore it does not exist? I am uncertain myself as to the details.

I dont see them making large sums of money available to help these governements to solve their social and econimic problems.

The 2-3 billion per year is aid to Egypt, part of the Camp David accords, you consider chicken feed?

Doubts if this would work are surely in place, but using only violence will surely fail.

Suggest you do some more homework, a great deal more than violence is going on. You may be victim of soda straw media coverage.

Instead we see a huge increase in the defense budget. Upgrading and improving all kinds of high tech stuff to guard your security is expensive and could be usefull (i have my doubts but ok). But such a huge increase? Terrorists usally dont have large armies to fight with and trying to occupy every country that has a 'rotten bastard' at his head and dislikes America is not feasible. The only thing this administration accomplishes is weakening the fundamentals of the american economy by creating a huge deficit which is very hard to recoup in the years to come because of demographical reasons. So what is the use?

Mixed concepts, will address a couple of them. I thought that the decision to go to war, and then to press on with the tax cut was a significant mistake. The Defense establishment is reforming, which is an expensive and long term process. Things like Comanche went under, a 13 billion dollar program. Cut and done. You will see, I am certain, in the next few years a significant draw down of active forces.

It was in the cards before 9-11, it will come to pass sooner or later. YOu seem to ignore, like most, that the US defense dollar funds global security, not just its own territorial needs. That puts spending on a completely different footing.

Thanks for the inputs.

Occhi