[Old Teufel Hunden]

"It may have been 1979, but they have the wrong event. 9/11 was blowback from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, even though it landed on the Soviet’s enemies."

I disagree. The Afghanis and Taliban were not interested in lashing out at us. It was the one they provided safe haven to, Al Quada and it's leader Bin Laden. Why did Bin Laden want to go after us? It all started from the first Gulf War when Bin Laden offered the Saudi Government assistance in protecting them against Sadaam's invasion. He was angry with them for going to the U.S. for assistance and for us now gaining a foothold in the Gulf. Why did Sadaam invade Kuwait? Because after 8 years of war with Iran, he was broke and he needed new oilfields and oil prices to rise. He felt he could get new oilfields and pressure the Saudis to go along with him in Opec because the Saudis are the key to Opec.

IMO, the author is correct. Our war against Islamo Fascism started in 1979 with the dethroning of the Shah. Yes, there was Islamic terrorism before that. However, these were small groups that did not have states backing them. There was no Al Quada types, just small bands that were a nuisance if nothing else.

[nickcarraway]

And what radicalized bin Laden? It was the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. That's what started it all.

(And that's when they had an important victory)