There seem to be several threads connecting the people who disapprove of our actions against the Moslems (Arabs). Illbay is a good example of the arguments used by those who would shy away from a conclusive response to those who committed – and those who approve – of this unique act of aggression.
The first arguments is that the Arabs “resent” the US. My response is OK, that’s their problem. The successful are often resented by the unsuccessful. Example:
I grew up as a poor immigrant. My father worked as a factory janitor and my mother worked as a housekeeper for a wealthy family. I could have resented their prosperity. Instead, I wanted to achieve what this wealthy family achieved. Today, after working like hell, I’m more than comfortable. If I had nurtured resentment, I would have devoted myself to pulling the wealthy down – to my own detriment. Instead, I nurtured achievement, and became successful.
The second argument is that the Arabs hate us because of our support of Israel. That may be partially true, but is not the issue. Bin Laden hates us because of our presence in Saudi Arabia - not our support of Israel. We are “polluting” holy ground. Remove Israel, and we would still be polluting holy ground. We are there because we – and the entire world – depend on the free flow of oil to sustain a modern civilization.
Initially, American and European companies discovered and developed the oil reserves of the Middle East. They were expropriated by the Arab governments in the 1950s. Because the Arabs did not have the technical expertise to operate the oil fields, they allowed the companies to continue to operate the fields, but took most of the profits. This converted in the poor, backwards Arab sheiks, princes and kings of the Gulf region into fabulously wealthy plutocrats with fleets of Rolls Royces, airplanes and palaces with gold fixtures. One way of characterizing this bunch is the most successful robbers of all time.
Some of this wealth was distributed to their subjects. However, most of it was used for opulence that would make the Gilded Age plutocrats blush – with damned little of the “little people.” However, the xenophobia and cultural attitudes have not changed from when the wealthiest of the kings was defined by the size of his camel herd. They have just been magnified by their vast wealth.
In order to retain their power, and keep those who envied their wealth at bay, these plutocrats funded a fanatical religious sect that exceeds anything known in the West. A sect that thrives on hatred of all things Western and preaches the killing of non-Moslems. . The payoff to the mullahs was a substitute for – and in some cases – an accompaniment to, a police state.
The chickens have now come home to roost. Words do have consequences. Preaching hatred and death gets results. We can’t deny this destiny without committing suicide. Nothing else will satisfy our enemies. And there are actually fools who think that our withdrawal from the middle East will satisfy those we identify us as the Great Satan. And if we throw Israel to the wolves in the bargain (our deluded “friends” say) – hey, let’s let the Arabs finish what Hitler started.
Love and peace.
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