Osama Bin Ladin's extremism against the United States really took hold after the first Gulf War when the U.S. left troops in Saudi Arabia. (The Mecca/holiest place for Muslims). This is a fact. No amount of emotion, spinning BS, ("they hate us no matter what we do......),
, can change this fact. Am I rationalising terrorism? No. But it doesn't hurt to get a frikkin' clue, especially when we are in a "war" against an ideological movement, not a country or group of countries.
And BTW, if you choose to call it a "war against terrorism", we are losing BIGTIME. Islam is by far and away the fastest growing religion in the world, growing in dozens of countries and regions like a wildfire right now, and even though we claim that we are not at war w/ a religion, the extremists of Islam have far more credibilty w/ their rank and file than the U.S. does, (which has close to zero).
Bush and the Neocons play into the hands of Al Quaeda in a way that is beyond their wildest wet dreams, OBL thinks that he has died and gone to heaven. (If he in fact hasn't died and gone to hell, for real). I'm sure that he cannot believe the stupidity of Bush, invading M.E. countries, (even eliminating one of OBL's enemies in the process), and just generally doing more for recruitment than a thousand infidel beheadings.
Oh, and the record price of oil is not caused by "speculation" in the way that you describe; it is caused in part by actual disruptions in supply, (Iraq is the 2nd biggest supply on earth and the supply system is in shambles due to insurgents/sabotage), but mostly the run-up is caused by
the fear of further disruption, which is a direct result of the botched Iraq invasion and predicted future instability.
All members of the oil supply industry will see record profits as a result, however, be they in Mexico, Venezuela, Texas, etc....
And all consumers worldwide will suffer, be they individuals, governments, charities, etc.....
Thanks a lot, assclowns!!
