30,000 more troops

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Believe me, i am no apologist for Islamic extremism (i'm no friend of religion in general), but the United States has a tremendous PR problem in the Muslim world and part of it is a consequence of the policies we've pursued for the last 50 years in that part of the world. Because of this there is a huge amount of cynicism and conspiracy theories among middle east Muslims, which is very convenient for terrorist groups who want to convince young men that the US is waging jihad on Muslims. We are very much involved in a propaganda war, and nothing is more detrimental to our progress than civilian casualties.

Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, has been reported telling an interviewer, “I traveled three months to recruit and only got 10-15 persons. One bombing by the Americans that killed innocents, and I got hundreds of recruits!”

Oh I agree, my point wasnt that I felt differently than you per se, but that the logic behind the jihad movement against the US is a catch 22. They didnt hate us when we supported Afghanistan against the USSR. Or, at least, they put aside their hate to benefit themselves. But now we are the USSR to them. I truly believe that part of the world feels they are owed something, and will always find someone to blame, hate and fight for it. The US has become something of the world police, and that makes many people feel threatened. The United States is the only country in the world who has the means and desire to keep international shipping lanes open, to name one example. If we stopped policing these lanes, anarchy would become the dominating rule, and world trade would suffer greatly. If we sat back and let the UN be the world's police, virtually nothing would get done but 'observe and report'. We, the American people, have good intentions. Look at what was discussed earlier in this thread... why we are in Iraq. The American people were sold a story that involved helping people's of some country on the other side of the globe. That's why we thought we were going over there, and we did. But now that we are there, much of the world seems to think our intentions are devious and selfish. Okay, lets pull back from policing the world, lets let the international shipping lanes go to hell, lets let nuclear proliferation run rampant. but of course, if we did that, in no time at all when all hell breaks lose, the same people who claim we are bullying the rest of the world would call us uncaring isolationists. Damned if we do, and damned if we dont.

 

[djarmy2004 10+ year member]

I think part of the problem is the American influence in muslim countries. Almost every muslim country is ruled by religion. This creates many problems as most of us Americans dont really realize that there religion is there life and there country. I think alot of Muslims are not ready for the type of change that america is pushing on them. As audio said there economy is shit and they live in the past.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

I think part of the problem is the American influence in muslim countries. Almost every muslim country is ruled by religion. This creates many problems as most of us Americans dont really realize that there religion is there life and there country. I think alot of Muslims are not ready for the type of change that america is pushing on them. As audio said there economy is shit and they live in the past.

Live in the past, very true. As I said before, the Qu'ran rejects technology, women's rights, individual rights, freedom, etc. If strict followers of the book had their way, society would take one huge step backwards. The dark ages would look like an advanced society compared to what would happen.
Im not suggesting I dislike Mslims, far from it. There are lots of good and respectable Muslims. But there is no denying the Qu'ran is a book filled with hate, aggression, and a rejection of peaceful coexistence with any other religion. Until human society stops beating around the bush and addresses that problem directly, we will continue to have a huge problem.

 

[King_corral 10+ year member]

had we bombed them to begin with after 9/11 people WOULD know not to **** with us...

King_Corral For El Presidente.