What you have provided in your note, Ursula is the Islamist party line. It is also the Leftist party line. America deserved to be attacked on 9/11. Oh, you softened it by saying our actions had consequences but it amounts to the same thing. Actually, this is utterly false. A great literature exists describing the creation of Islamism. We know how it originated and we know what it teaches. The motivation for the attack against the U.S. on 9/11 does not lie in what the U.S. did. It lies in what Islamism is. It is a politico/religious ideology. It argues that Allah has promised that Islam will spread throughout the world. Sayyid Qutb as the most articulate spokesman argued that the Jihad should be used to advance the true belief within Islamic countries and within the countries of the infidel. Leftists have provided an overlay of this and argued, well, yes, they say it is religious but that is just their way of expressing their Marxist revolutionary spirit. But that is nonsense. Nothing in their writings or in their actions implies that they are motivated by Marxist ideology. Their motivation is religious. It is a Fundamentalist form of Islam that emphasizes a militant advance of their beliefs. Al Quaeda was formed at the end of the war in Afghanistan, after the defeat of the USSR. They believe this great victory indicated Allah's approval. And if they could defeat the USSR, the US should be even simpler because the US was afraid to fight. Osama described in some speeches how the U.S. ran away on several occasions whereas he and his followers embrace death. They are not afraid to die and so the US cannot stand against them. This is straight Sayyid Qutb ideology taught to Osama by Sayyid's brother, Mohhamad. Also, this ideology is widely believed throughout the Middle East. It isn't embraced by just a few "gangs" as Mike argues. It is a widespread belief and it favors the Jihad and terrorist attacks as a way to further the Islamic cause. Read Sayyid Qutb. He has written voluminously. Qutb came to the US and studied at a college in Colorado where he developed a negative opinion of Americans. They are a decadent people. But his opinion isn't what modern Leftists would have us believe today. 9/11 wasn't a response to anything the US did. It was a response to what the US is - a nation of infidels. All infidels must convert or be destroyed. There is no other way as far as militant Islam is concerned. As far as some of us in the US are concerned, however, there is another way. I know you won't approve, but it's called FIGHTING BACK. It's tough to do with so many in America routing for America's enemies, but some are trying to do it anyway. Lawrence -----Original Message----- From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ursula Stange Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 11:10 AM To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Aren't you glad you no longer have a Hitler problem? If you stand on principle, Lawrence, you can't dictate who can stand there with you. Maybe the "Leftists" see some truth you refuse to see. Maybe the Islamists see some truth you refuse to see. Maybe some of it is the same truth that you refuse to see. It's a cheap trick to suggest that if someone criticizes American actions, they must be supporters of America's 'enemies." The second paragraph below is even less worth responding to. Believing that the attack on 9/11 'followed' from American actions in the Middle East is NOT the same as believing that the 3000 Americans who died 'deserved' to die. Do you really think that these radical Islamists just constituted themselves as enemies of the U.S. out of nothing? Actions have consequences. U.S. actions over the last fifty years have borne this ugly fruit. Your last sentence is utter nonsense. Ursula North Bay Lawrence Helm wrote: > //There has been so much written on this, I must believe it is common > knowledge. Leftist writers and Islamists use the same anti-American > arguments. They borrow from each other. They support each other's causes. (snip) > But the Leftists I'm describing believe America should be defeated by > the Islamists. It believes that it deserved to have its world trade > center destroyed on 9/11. Such Leftists have declared common cause > with the Radical Islamists. > > Lawrence >