That is a terrible...
We can have the conversation right now.
Osama saying that the 9/11 attacks were retaliation for our corrupt values, cultures, yadda yadda, is like saying a woman was beaten, raped and killed because she was wearing provocative clothing - "asking" for it.
Some mental case may indeed say that he murdered a woman because of what he perceived to be her loose morals, but he's a mental case. If he weren't, he wouldn't have attacked and killed the woman in the first place.
So when some observer (say, Rev. Wright or Ron Paul) says, "Well, she was attacked and killed because of her loose morals," that means they are mental cases as well. Sure, it's the reason the killer himself gave for his violent act, but it doesn't mean it's a credible reason. And, indeed, anyone who confirms the mental case's excuse is blaming the victim.
So do we say, "Young women - you are no longer allowed to wear skimpy clothing, because some mental case is offended by it and has said he will kill you if you do"? Or do we lock up the mental case? Do we say, "Well...I mean, she WAS wearing skimpy clothing..."? Or do we say it doesn't matter what she wears, you're still not allowed to kill her?
...analogy and not much of an effort on your part.
I think it is fine for you say the US can go anywhere in the world and do anything we like and no one has a right to take issue with it and if they do they are crazy. I disagree, but, if that's how you feel, that's fine.
I think it is fine for you to say Muslims are crazy people to think their religion means what it says about foreign armies in their Holy Lands. I think they're crazy, too, but, I can't take issue with their beliefs being what they are. I can't blame a rabid dog for biting me if I stick my fingers through his fence. I sure as hell can't claim to be some innocent babe in a thong simply minding my own business.
I've never seen people mob the streets in celebration of a rape of an innocent women. I have seen people mob the streets in celebration of their sworn enemy getting attacked. You ever see people take to the streets to celebrate a rape?
You're making a value judgement that our way is better and we have a right and perhaps an obligation to impose it on them. Maybe we do. I don't think so, but, maybe we do. Shouldn't we at least understand how they think, how they see us before we go forcing change on them?
Obviously, you haven't read Osama's fatwah on us. He sounds a lot like Wright and Falwell and Robertson in condemning the US. It's not just our culture they all take issue with, it's the support for the Saudi Royal family and how their way of life is suffering from our influence. To them, this is a life and death struggle, crazy or not.
Now, even if your analogy holds water, that we, the US were just some innocent, scantily clad woman walking past the wrong maniac who then raped us and killed us, the question still needs to be answered; are we right in our actions and intentions in the Middle East the last 40 years?
Is your last name Huffington?
Man... if I didn't know any better I would guess you've got that video of how the World Trade Centers were blown up with controlled explosions going on in the background while you write.
