[yonif]

Even if Arafat was found to have connections with Al Queda or 9/11, the Islamic world could care less. They support Al Queda. The only terror groups they oppose are those seeking to overthrow their dictatorships so that they could create new ones (like Saudi Arabia, who could care less about Al Queda murdering Americans, but when Al Queda strikes in their country they use it for propaganda purposes to show they are against terrorism, while funding Hamas. And Pakistan too, fighting Al Queda which seeks to overthrow Musharaff, while sending terrorists to murder Indians.)

It is not terrorism to target a non-Muslim, by the thought of militant Islam. Neither are non-Muslims people civilians, they are combatents.

The Islamic world's governments are on the side of Arafat and his organization's quest to destroy Israel.

[Southack]

I don't blame you for being jaded and cynical, but al-qaeda has alienated their own allies. Already they've tried to assassinate Musharaff in Pakistan, Massoud and Kharzai in Afghanistan (they got Massoud), King Abdullah in Jordan, as well as attempted to oust the Saud's in Saudi Arabia. No doubt they've tried to hit Mubarrak in Egypt, too, though that's a bit tougher to confirm.

Well, those sorts of things don't build allies. The imams of the royal families in Saudi Arabia and Jordan and Kuwait are already condemning Bin Laden and al-qaeda, as is Ghadafy in Libya. Northern Alliance mullahs in Afghanistan likewise condemn the Taliban and al-qaeda.

At some moment you finally reach the tipping point where most of the Islamic world is condemning al-qaeda. Should Arafat get caught aiding a big attack for them, then this condemnation will burn the Palestinians by removing forever their international "shield of protection."

And we are very close to that point. Hang in there just a little longer and you'll see.