As it relates to Israel in the Middle East, the Muslim religion is most certainly driving the terrorism. From birth these kids are taught that Israelis are dogs or monkeys. Families teach this to their children. Schools teach it to them. Neighbors teach it to them. The media teaches it to them. The mosques teach it to them. You would have to believe that Communists took over the Muslim religion to retain your believe that Communism is the cause for terrorism in the Middle East. It simply isn't. Has it had some influence? I believe that it has, but the idea that the death of communism world-wide would usher in the end of strife in the Middle-East is ludacrist.
As for the Muslim religion driving terrorism around the planet, I've never claimed that.
From what I have read Socialist/Marxist groups had been influential with the IRA. I still don't think the IRA would have ceased to exist without that influence. The Palestinians did help train IRA operatives at some point. The IRA was not training the PLO.
Was the old USSR a destabalizing influence? Of course it was. It did have it's fingers in a lot of things, from the Middle-East, to Africa, across Europe and into South America. Perhaps the USSRs relationship with Syria was a catalyst for the Hezbollah and Hamas. I don't really know. That can be a catalyst for the development of Hezbollah. Communism still isn't the driving force. Hezbollah is not carrying out these acts because they are avowed Communists, intent on bringing Communism to the evil Jews.
This is a religious war. The Muslims are intent on ridding the Middle-East of the infidels. They are not intent on ridding the Middle-East of the evil capitalists. Capitalism is alive and well in the Middle-East.
I would suspect that you and I have a lot more in common on this subject than our discussion implies. I do think the old USSR was a major player in the old days. Russia still may be more of a player than we realize. I simply cannot sign on to the idea that Communism and not the Muslim religion is driving the Middle-Eastern conflict.
I believe that it has, but the idea that the death of communism world-wide would usher in the end of strife in the Middle-East is ludacrist.
The death of it? No. But certainly a major reduction. If you look at the first part of the 1990's you see a sharp downturn in terrorism and other related conflicts. Russia was too busy with it's own problems to meddle in the ME. As a communist power Russia was a major player in the ME but even prior, under the Czars Russia kept the pot stirred. They called it "The Great Game." That they were playing with lives didn't seem to matter to them.
With the fall of the USSR and with Boris Yeltsin in power things calmed down considerably. No all was not quiet but it was calmer.
The IRA was not training the PLO.
Sadly not so.
For your review. Perhaps it will explain better my point in this discussion.