[jdege]

The Islamic terrorist groups were and are being cultivated and funded by Middle Eastern governments seeking political control, in an attempt to keep them from overthrowing the Middle Eastern governments.

Which attempts have failed quite often.

(Remember Sadat?)

[Wombat101]

jdege is right, but I submit for your further cogitation:

Isn't is possible that SOME Arab regimes fund terrorism for another purpose, i.e. keeping the West busy whilst they try to take on Israel again? What I'm trying to say is that should a war against Israel get out of hand (meaning Israel is on the verge of losing (as if!)) and Western powers (i.e the United States) step in, even the combined might of the Arab states could not keep the U.S. from reversing the situation. Jackals do not attack lions one-on-one, they gang up and attack from all directions (thanks to Tom Clancy for the analogy). The possibility that one of these groups could some day pose a threat to the government that feeds them is a risk many may be willing to take.