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And you make it sound like the terrorists weren't responsible for 9/11, so who was? Us? Because we don't follow Islamic doctrine? Where do you draw the line? AFTER we've all been converted in order to prevent violence?
Religious conversion has nothing to do with the presently diminished devotion of the Christian faith. We've simply become a nation of hypocrites who worship nothing but money and military power.
Re: the issue at hand:
In preparation for Operation Desert Storm, Bush-1 arranged with his Saudi Arabian buddies to install a temporary Air Base in the Islamic holy land of Mecca. He also promised to pressure Israel into reducing its occupation of Palestinian territories. But as time went by the "temporary" air base remained in Mecca and Israel's occupation activities increased, so Usama bin Laden reminded Bill Clinton of Bush's promises and warned him that action would be taken if those promises weren't kept. When Bill Clinton ignored the warning a nearly successful attempt was made by one Ramseh Yousef in 1993 to topple a World Trade Center tower.
In 1998, PBS Frontline's John Miller interviewed Usama bin Laden in a cave in Afghanistan. I recall watching that intervew. The following is a brief excerpt of what bin Laden had to say:
(Miller)...
"What is the meaning of your call for Muslims to take arms against America in particular, and what is the message that you wish to send to the West in general?"
(bin Laden)
"The call to wage war against America was made because America has spear-headed the crusade against the Islamic nation, sending tens of thousands of its troops to the land of the two Holy Mosques over and above its meddling in its affairs and its politics, and its support of the oppressive, corrupt and tyrannical regime that is in control. These are the reasons behind the singling out of America as a target. And not exempt of responsibility are those Western regimes whose presence in the region offers support to the American troops there. We know at least one reason behind the symbolic participation of the Western forces and that is to support the Jewish and Zionist plans for expansion of what is called the Great Israel. Surely, their presence is not out of concern over their interests in the region. ... Their presence has no meaning save one and that is to offer support to the Jews in Palestine who are in need of their Christian brothers to achieve full control over the Arab Peninsula which they intend to make an important part of the so called Greater Israel. ..."
frontline: hunting bin laden: who is bin laden?: interview with osama bin laden (in may 1998) | PBS
When Bush-2 took Office bin Laden issued the same warning to him several times. Like Clinton, Bush ignored the warnings and the result was the 9/11 attack.
While Bush-2 proudly took credit for there being no attacks after 9/11, the reason for it is shortly after 9/11 Bush quickly shut down the Bin-Sultan Air Base his father had installed in Mecca and removed all Americans from that land. He then pressured Sharon to remove all the Israeli settlements from the Gaza region.
If the demands to remove our troops from their holy land and to stop supporting Israeli oppression of the Palestinians were met neither attack on the World Trade Center would have occurred. One can puff up and issue stupid bravado but the fact remains, the Muslims had two legitimate grievances which we ignored. The consequence was they proved they can hurt us -- even if some of them must commit suicide to do it.
The bottom line is you don't want to antagonize people who are willing to die to strike at you. That's what the stupid sonofabitch, Terry Jones, who burned the Koran did and it
cost another twelve Americans their lives.
There is nothing in this world more dangerous than a man or woman who is ready to die -- except for several million of them.
SO LEAVE THOSE PEOPLE ALONE!