Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

Terrorism Sucks

by BooMan
Tue Mar 16th, 2010 at 10:25:37 AM EST

So, let's say that at least part of the point of the 9/11 attacks was to get the American people to focus on the plight of the Palestinians. I think we can support such a supposition by looking at bin-Laden's 1998 Fatwa in which he made the following assertion:

The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim.

The al-Aqsa Mosque sits atop the ruins of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed by Vespasian and Titus in 70 CE. Because Muslims still control the Temple Mount, bin-Laden's language was symbolic and meant that Jews would be expelled from East Jerusalem (at the very least). It's important that Americans realize that al-Qaeda is trying to kill them (in part) because of our support for Israel and Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. It has nothing to do with our freedoms. In any case, (via Yglesias) here is how bin-Laden's message was received by the American people.

While bin-Laden did achieve his goal of expelling U.S. troops from the land of the two mosques (Mecca and Medina), he absolutely destroyed support for the Palestinians with the American people, whose support is crucial to getting American politicians to force Israel into making needed concessions. If the name of the game is to sway American public opinion, the Intifada and the Second Intifada (combined with 9/11) had the exact opposite effect, making the use of terrorism about the most counterproductive and pointless exercise imaginable.

Terrorism Sucks | 39 comments (39 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Your Hypothesis Is Dead Wrong! (4.00 / 2)

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OBL's war is about occupation of foreign troops (infidels) in the land of Muhammad, the Islamic holy places and Muslim countries. As all revolutionaries, he uses discontent and division to recruit his fighters in many nations. There are many places world-wide where states are divided between christians and muslims: Bosnia, Chechnya, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Somalia, etc. OBL also exploits the Sunni/Shia religious divide throughout the Muslim world. His first war was with CIA backing in Afghanistan fighting and defeating a world power, the Soviet Union. Next were the satellite states of the former CSSR such as Chechnya with a large Muslim population to gain control of government e.g. The US allowed illegal shipments of arms into the Balkans in support of the Muslim people of Bosnia, hereby introducing Al Qaeda cells and OBL foreign fighters into Europe.

The invasion and occupation of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi troops, was a major turning point. He volunteered his foreign fighters to the Saudi King to rid Kuwait of the Iraqi forces. Pointedly his most disturbing grievance was the presence of U.S. forces in the land of Saudi Arabia with the holy places Mecca and Medina. Even your graph shows the major shift of public opinion in favor of the Israelis and opposition to the Palestinian cause in the year 1990-91. The reason was both King Hussein of Jordan (protector of Medina) and Yasser Arafat vowed to support Saddam Hussein (Sunni) in his adventure. Israel was being attacked by Saddam's scud missiles and the world opinion shifted in Israel's support. The cost of the U.S. military in Gulf War I would be carried by the rich oil nations of the Gulf region and the UK was rewarded with the largest military arms deal ever. Good for Thatcher, Bush #41 and SoS James Baker III. The reward for the Arab nations was the Oslo Accords in regards to the I/P conflict. Netanyahu has never recognized these terms and flagrantly decided to push forward with the illegal settlement push on Palestinian land.

In the meantime, the Saudi Kingdom evicted Osama Bin Laden and he left for Sudan where he tried to build his emperium and give employment to many of his supporters (mujadeen fighters ex-Afghan war). In the 90s OBL joined forces with the Muslim brotherhood (assassination Sadat) and Zawahiri and had to move again to Taliban controlled Afghanistan where he continued with training foreign fighters, had backing of all parties in the region: Pakistan extremists from religious schools, ISI and Pakistan government. Remember, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan was recognized by United Arab Emirates (falconry), Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

The link with 911 and Islamic terrorism (Saudis) to the Palestinians was made through a PR campaign by Netanyahu, Sharon, AIPAC lobbyists and the Neocon US-Israel political movement. For only a single purpose: Eretz Israel, eternal city Jerusalem for the Jewish people and evicting as many Palestinians as possible from their homeland.

Your interpretation of the graph is misleading. It really shows eight years of repugnant right-wing extremism joining hands (Bush and Sharon-Likud) to subjugate the Palestinian people. Does terror work? Of course it does, the existence of the state of Israel is the best illustration!

Israel's Excellence In Sabotage and Terror

Stern Gang and Aerial London Attack

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

by Oui on Tue Mar 16th, 2010 at 03:52:48 PM EST

Re: Your Hypothesis Is Dead Wrong! (none / 1)

good point on the Gulf War turning American people against the Palestinians. Otherwise, our only disagreement is over the degree to which the terror threat is fueled by Israel and Israel-U.S. relations. From their point of view, infidels are occupying Muslim land in Israel. And, that's permanent, unlike our troops in, say, the Balkans.

by BooMan on Tue Mar 16th, 2010 at 04:14:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Terrorism Sucks (4.00 / 2)

I've alway maintained that bin Laden's main goal was/is to destabilize nuclear Pakistan (championing Palestinians is/was likewise about enraging Pakistan [and Indonesian - another Muslim powerhouse] Muslims). And we've been a huge help in that department.

by keres on Tue Mar 16th, 2010 at 07:13:17 PM EST

Re: Terrorism Sucks (none / 1)

Bin Laden's goal was not to get attention to the Palestinian people, at least in reality. Sure, he claims it was one of the main reasons, but in truth Bin Laden doesn't give a damn about them whatsoever. They're just tools for recruitment, same as most leaders in the region. No one really seems to care about them except for citizens around the world. They're seen as pawns to people like Bin Laden.

I'd say, though, that it's not terrorism that is the most counterproductive exercise, at least with respect to this issue, but it's violence. Even if I see Hamas and such defending themselves as justified, as the Israelis are occupiers, it's not going to achieve anything but kill innocent people, and push you and your cause into a corner. I'm a subscriber of the Doctrine of Double Effect, though, so killing purposefully attacking civilians is never justified in my opinion. I only see it as defense if it's attacking the IDF; and even still, is that self-defense going to achieve anything other than more violence and bloodshed?

It's the difference between MLK and Malcom X. Both radicals, despite historical revisionism, but one keeping with non-violence, and the other advocating for violence in an act of self-defense. I think we've seen what's more productive, even if the less-effective measure is justified.