9/11 coverup?

[EyeOfHorus]

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

i know. i realised this as soon as i reread my post. It is not as simple as that. But the paradox is that killing an enemy will reduce the number of enemies is often proven to be a wrong assumption in these kind of conflicts.

Your comments also appear to assume a monolithic influence by the Islamacists

??, I dont know exactly what you mean by this. The Islamic world is quite fractured. This is true for both the moderates as the extremists. There is no simple label or policy that fits for all these groups.

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.

Granted, before 9/11 there were some attempts to change things without violence ( for example the Oslo peace process). Success was very limited though.

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

Actually my work brings me in close contact with students of these countries (also of Iran, Pakistan and other countries around the region). If i talk to them the situation in their respective countries has not improved (much)the last decade. The Egyptian case is good example of bad policy. A part of the US is targeted at economic and agricultural issues (about 1/4 if my memory serves me correctly). But to this aid are tied condtions about opening up markets, in principle OK as i favour this. But when you have an economy that is built on a corrupt system it will not work. The net effect is that Egypt has become more dependent on imports and a noticable part of the local economy / agriculture has been destroyed and the aid dispaears in the pockets of government officials/ organisations. Fortunately others sectors of the economy have done slightly better so all is not bad. But my statement about not giving structural aid stands, as badly conceived aid is often worse than no aid.

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.

No iI'm not. I'm glad that America is the super power in the world and not lets say China. Though i have my criticism on the use of American power i respect the fact they sometimes at least try to do things. I only whish that sometimes the American administration would give a bit more thought about the cause and effect of their actions. If they do, its lost on me sometimes but that may be my limitation.

Regards,