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Jul. 10th, 2005
An interesting take on things
Jul. 10th, 2005 12:58 pmCommentators distinguish between minor terrorist attacks and serious ones. The bombings in London fall into the category of minor attacks that even George Bush and Benjamin Netanyahu can explain: a war of Islam against the West.
On Thursday, the day of the London bombings, a tragic terrorist attack of the serious kind took place - the murder of the Egyptian ambassador in Iraq. A Muslim was murdered by Muslims. Not war against Western culture, but war against an Arab state that is willing to maintain diplomatic relations with Iraq.
Why was it a major terrorist act? Because in this case one has to know the forces at work inside Iraq, try to separate between Shi'ites who support and oppose the government, between Sunnis and Kurds, between organizations affiliated to Abu Musab al-Zarkawi and those still affiliated with the Ba'ath party, and distinguish between Egypt's policy and the policy of other Arab states.
In short, this is a terrorist act that does not enable leaders to get away with sweeping accusations, or to plunge into helplessness and console themselves with the feeling that they belong to the good, enlightened world, to the culture of the West.
The London bombings seem to render the probe for causes and circumstances superfluous. Islam against the West is a good explanation.
your thoughts?
Also,
this was in the back of my mind for a long time.
For you Brits out there who read this:
Indeed, why wasn't the connection with israel made?
On Thursday, the day of the London bombings, a tragic terrorist attack of the serious kind took place - the murder of the Egyptian ambassador in Iraq. A Muslim was murdered by Muslims. Not war against Western culture, but war against an Arab state that is willing to maintain diplomatic relations with Iraq.
Why was it a major terrorist act? Because in this case one has to know the forces at work inside Iraq, try to separate between Shi'ites who support and oppose the government, between Sunnis and Kurds, between organizations affiliated to Abu Musab al-Zarkawi and those still affiliated with the Ba'ath party, and distinguish between Egypt's policy and the policy of other Arab states.
In short, this is a terrorist act that does not enable leaders to get away with sweeping accusations, or to plunge into helplessness and console themselves with the feeling that they belong to the good, enlightened world, to the culture of the West.
The London bombings seem to render the probe for causes and circumstances superfluous. Islam against the West is a good explanation.
your thoughts?
Also,
this was in the back of my mind for a long time.
For you Brits out there who read this:
Indeed, why wasn't the connection with israel made?