perception wrote:Hobit
My response to Steve which you took upon yourself to answer was intended to deal with the " Worldwide" aspects of terrorism but then you quite often do "selective" reading.
True, I do read selectively. It is a technique known as reading for content. It is a failing we educated folks have. Rather like our horrible habit of not jumping to conclusions. Sigh...too bad we can't be like the pridefully ignorant and react without thinking.
Quote: Hezbollah has been very successful at killing women and children in Israel but have only a handful of successes world wide.
The "handful," were better planned and executed than the "handful" accomplished by al-Quaeda. What Hezbollah possesses and al-Quaeda lacks is a large infrastructure with ready sources of cash, much of it from state sponsors.
Quote:Most experts on al Queda would be more than amused by the way you try to minimize the capabilies and the extent of the threat posed by al Queda.
"Most" is an equallyu poor word choice. I wasn't aware I was "minimizing" anything. You are aware that there are over 1,000 organizations that have claimed responsibility for terrorist actions in teh ME in the last 25 years, I assume?
Quote:It is possible that all madrassa schools are not run by Wahhabis financed by Saudia Arabia but you did not provide a source to confirm your opinion.
Again, an example of poor reasoning. Do you understand when citations are neccessary and when they are not? I didn't think anyone was naive enough to think that Islam was a monolithic entity.
Quote:My two time use of "all" is an unfortunate slip of the kepboard-----I take no responsibility:)
Are you not responsible for your rhetoric? I calim complete responsibility for my comments. I doubt anyone else here has computers that type their own answers without the writer's input.
Quote:Your other rhetorical criticisms are just that ----- your opinion that something is not so doesn't carry much credence.
My opinions, especially when I indicate they are based upon research, have the backing of that research.
Quote:I notice you chose not to mention my allegation about the Syria's illegal occupation of Lebanon and the failure of the UN to recognize it as one of the leading causes of contention between Israel and the Arab world is nothing short of criminal.
Syrias occupation of Lebanon has been addressed by the UNSC frequently in the period 1989-2003. The references to such are available in several places, including the on-line archive of security council position papers and other errata.
Quote: Just another example of the irrelevance of the UN
Again, you make a generalization with nothing to back it up. Do you consider UN efforts regarding disease, hunger, education, human rights, etc.. to be irrelevent? Why?
Quote: and the implicit intent of all Bush critics to ignore abuses by the enemies of the US.
Who are these "enemies" you always refer to? My understanding of your definition of an "enemy to the US" from reading your comments is this: An enemy of the United States is anyone who disagrees with our policy. This is fallacious reasoning.
Quote:Your statement about the correlation of Sunni Islam(al Queda) and Shiite Islam(Hezbollah) is self evident.
Of course it was.
Quote: Your inference was that Wahhabism being Sunni was somehow distinct and disconnected from the Shiite form of terrorism and therefore irrelevant.
No, you misread the statement. I addressed motivation and membership. Nowhere on this board have I ever considered any terrorism, including that perpetrated by the US, to be irrellevent.
Quote: An obfuscation on your part that must be commented upon.
And should I indulge in that behaviour I assure you someone with better reading comprehension skills will pick up on it. Obfuscatory acts would include such examples as:
-posting articles without stating sources.
-posting articles without sources and heavily editing them to alter the thesis.
-personal attacks on other posters, such as "you should be shot as a traitor," "You are trying to downplay how evil ___ is," "you Bush haters," etc....
Quote:The dangers of the Saudi Gov'ts well financed and orgainzed campaign to spread Wahhabism's hatred around the world is just now becoming recognized and known.
It has been recognized in the literature since the early 1980s. the mainstream press has picked up on it since 11th Sept 2001.
Quote: It is evident that the Saudi gov't now recognizes the monster they grown
Possibly. I consider it more likely that they are participating in publicity to keep outside investors happy.
Quote: and that it will very likely bring down the House of Saud.
This I doubt. There has never been direct succession among the Saudis, and often the person with the strongest power base wins.
Quote: That is why we are identifying likely candidates among the Saudi Military who are capable of taking control of the country should the House of Saud crumble.
Who is "we?" Are you aware the US intelligence apparatus does the same thing with every nation, from Canada to Botswana?
Quote:I must make one thing clear----I don't for a minute underestimate the dangers posed by Hezbollah and the article you cited was a good one.
Of course it was.
Quote: But in all probability we will allow Israel to "deal with" Hezbollah
I wasn't aware Israel asked for our permission.
Quote: until after the election is over and then the gloves come off with both Iran and Syria-----I hope.
And your desired solution is....? Those with a fondness for war are frequently those who ignore both history and politics.
Quote: 
Of course that will be after we withdraw most of our troops from countries around the world that don't appreciate us.
I don't know many that do appreciate "us" at the moment. I also don't see the US withdrawing troops from Iraq anytime soon.
Quote: We will then have plenty to finish the job in Iraq and deal with Syria and Iran.
It seems likely the "job" in Iraq is unfinishable in any way preferable to the US. Invading Iran would be just the thing to destroy the democratic advances of the last 15 years. Invading Syria would likely involve the US in a war against most of the Near East, including Jordan, Egypt, and possibly the North African countries and Turkey as well. Not an exceptionally bright plan!
