[truth_seeker]

In the days following Sep. 11--some Islamic spokespersons advised the US to consider the cause of the "unrest" which gives rise to terrorism. Of course this was rejected, because it sounded like an attempt to justify the terrorism.

Ironically, however, it is sound advice. As we learn more about those countries, we find largely poor people, living under actual or near dictatorships, with a small, very rich upper class.

Those governments are only too happy to scapegoat America and Israel, for it plays to the masses. Those masses aren't very sophisticated, when it comes to learning the truth. If found, the truth is repressed, by state and church dominated press/media, by religious only education, by harsh police and military rule, etc.

The little guy finds an outlet, for his frustration, with radical Islam. Saudi Arabia has exported its malcontents, gladly, so as to remove the internal threat. In Egypt they put them in cages, in the courts.

The only "revolutions" have gone the direction of Islamic republics. The chances for a western style, democratically elected government are slim to none. If elections took place, they would probably elect radical Islam, after decades of brainwashing, illiteracy, etc.

So the prospects of getting what is best for the little guy--an efficient market economy, secular, constitutional democracy and the personal/economic freedom and benefits are virtually out of the question.

America supports the Saudi royals, because the alternative might be, probably is worse, for the US. The royals are as close to an ally, as we can get.

It is different with each country. For self defense, our short/medium range foreign policy must be to put the hammer down with each government, to control, repress and destroy the terrorist element. In the long range, our best interest is for them to become participants in free markets, freedoms, if (and that is a big IF) they have the ability, under Islam in any form.

[The Kitten]

I agree with everything you say until the last sentence clause. If you read this whole article, it tells how Islam in the Middle East was completely into free trade in the past. This is the Islam of Sinbad, Scheherezade, Aladdin and the Merchant Of Levant Whose Word Could Always Be Trusted. It sure as heck wasn't the crummy Islam of the taleban. Gus Dur of Indonesia, who is the leader of the largest Islamic group in the world, said he was always struck by the POVERTY of the Islamic purist regimes and Indonesians really could not stand poverty, being Asians and all. Mohammed himself was a trader, and all his pals were too. Islam was the richest part of the world when free trade was practiced. The crusaders came over because they were fascinated by all the prosperity. Yes, Islam with all its canny rug merchants, can indeed become capitalist. We would have a run for our money if they ever did that, as they are quite good at it.