Are we missing a key point in the war on terrorism?

Asked by SquirrelEStuff (10009

) January 12th, 2015

It seems that it is becoming mainstream thought, that the main goal of Islamic terrorists, is to spread Islam and Sharia Law throughout the world.
I do not doubt that there may be a small sect that feels this way, but are we overlooking a very important fact in the cause of terrorist attacks?

It is easy for us to call people who attack us, terrorists, but are we overlooking the fact that war is two-sided, and when we are bombing 7 countries, over 13 years, there will obviously be groups that fight back, and it just so happens that all 7 countries are Muslim countries, so of course that will be used to unify people?

Here are quotes from several attackers since, and including 9/11:
French Shooter
“In a recording of what followed, a man the station identifies as Coulibaly holds a dialogue with others—apparently hostages—in which he says he attacked because the French military has attacked Muslims in the Middle East and Mali, including ISIS militants.

“I was born in France. If they didn’t attack other countries, I wouldn’t be here,” a voice says in RTL’s recording.”

Boston Bomber

“He equated the three people who were killed in the marathon bombings and the more than 250 others who were injured to ‘collateral damage’ like the thousands of innocent Muslim victims of American wars across the globe.
‘When you attack one Muslim, you attack all Muslims,’ he reportedly wrote.”

Underwear Bomber
“In quick response to some of the things that have been said, I say my life and the lives of Muslims have also changed due to the attacks on innocent civilians,” he added.”

Shoe Bomber:
“I further admit my allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah. With regards to what you said about killing innocent people, I will say one thing. Your government has killed 2 million children in Iraq. If you want to think about something, against 2 million, I don’t see no comparison.

Your government has sponsored the rape and torture of Muslims in the prisons of Egypt and Turkey and Syria and Jordan with their money and with their weapons. I don’t know, see what I done as being equal to rape and to torture, or to the deaths of the two million children in Iraq.

So, for this reason, I think I ought not apologize for my actions. I am at war with your country. I’m at war with them not for personal reasons but because they have murdered more than, so many children and they have oppressed my religion and they have oppressed people for no reason except that they say we believe in Allah.

This is the only reason that America sponsors Egypt. It’s the only reason they sponsor Turkey. It’s the only reason they back Israel.

As far as the sentence is concerned, it’s in your hand. Only really it is not even in your hand. It’s in Allah’s hand. I put my trust in Allah totally and I know that he will give victory to his religion. And he will give victory to those who believe and he will destroy those who wish to oppress the people because they believe in Allah.

So you can judge and I leave you to judge. And I don’t mind. This is all I have to say. And I bear witness to Muhammad this is Allah’s message.”

Bin Laden’s Letter to America
While seeking Allah’s help, we form our reply based on two questions directed at the Americans:

(Q1) Why are we fighting and opposing you?
Q2)What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you?

As for the first question: Why are we fighting and opposing you? The answer is very simple:

(1) Because you attacked us and continue to attack us.

I am by no means a “terrorist sympathizer,” but remember back during the 2004 election, a certain republican candidate talking about what the CIA calls “blowback,” and how bombing and overthrowing middle eastern governments will lead to an increase in terrorists, and threats against us and other nations allied with us.
This idea has seemed to completely escape the realm of mainstream thought, and I think it is time to discuss the unintended consequences of our foreign policy.

What do you guys think?

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5 Answers

As long as western nations—not just the US—maintain an “us vs them” stance toward the Islamic world, terrorism and terrorist attacks will continue. We really are seeing the old truth “you reap what you sow” coming true almost on a daily basis.

At the same time, we are seeing one of the key points in the movie/book The Secret in action: what you think about the most manifests the most. In the US, the whole focus of government agencies is on stopping terrorist threats before they become reality. So by focusing on, and constantly thinking about, terror and terrorism, the US is manifesting more terror threats and acts. I am constantly amazed that no one in the Federal Government gets this essential point.

sahID (2523

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There you have it. The REAL consequence of U.S. adventurism. Terrorism, like most of the evils which afflict the world is at bottom about impoverishment and frustration. There is one great line from Dr. Zhivago worthy of remembrance. I can still see the scene when Alec Guiness is narrating the spectacle in front of himself, as young Russian soldiers in their brand new boots, fur hats and great coats go marching past, on their way to the front. He tells us that he has been ordered to march with them, and after the boots wear out, and the coats are ragged, it will be time to recruit these young heroes to the Bolshevik cause. But it’s the final line in the monologue that matters, and is especially pertinent regarding terrorists: “Happy men don’t volunteer”

stanleybmanly (24153

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The main thing they forget is that off no other authority than the US has drones Raptor jets, A-1 Abrams tanks, and nukes, that whoever is not with us and we say is against us can be hit with tomahawk missile from miles out to see; which means, we can slap you hard, and you can’t touch us. So what, 2 million Islamic kids, 5 million, or 20 million, they are future jihadist in the making, like rodents, vermin, or cockroaches you have to get as many as you can before they get in the house or you have a problem. If they would just cow down and do thing the American way, we woiuld not have to bomb them killing their innocent children in the process. ~~~

Hypocrisy_Central (26879

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As Americans we don’t like too think too deep or too hard. We prefer our answers to fit in a bumper sticker or at most a thirty second sound byte.
In a “hold my beer and watch this” society asking us to consider whether or not our actions have consequences is a little over the top. N’est pas?

rojo (24179

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The “War on Terror”, as a reaction, is an admission that the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack. In the 13 years since 9/11/2001, many of the rights of US residents have been abridged in the name of “security”. We (as a nation) have allowed this to happen, and have allowed the radical Islamists to succeed. It was Osama bin Laden who said ”...As you undermine our security we undermine yours.”

Strauss (23812

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