Originally Posted by SDDep

Seriously? I know you arent comparing deaths from natural causes, accidents, homicide etc etc...to 9/11..

A huge over reaction...maybe...but what would you have done? sat down and had a chit chat with Osama over a nice cup of herbal tea?

Would it have gone somthing like this..."so Mr Bin Laden, what can we do as Westerners to ensure you don't kill 3000 more of us in one fell swoop, because it is our fault after all"..

Come on now...no more silly comparisons.

Originally Posted by Toast Patterson

All we need to do is stop controlling the wealth, resources and politics of weaker countries, and stop supporting the terrorist state of Israel- and "terrorism" (as if it's a big problem here anyway) will end overnight...

It's our empire
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LqT6E0rXF9g
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NgyL-1ZSdGo

Originally Posted by SDDep

I'm not rising to the rest of it..but just so I'm clear, if "we" stop supporting Israel...terrorism will end?

Originally Posted by Toast Patterson

Don't take my word on it, take Bin Ladin's- he put out a bunch of videos explaining why he did it and everyone of them sites our blind support of Israel as the main reason...We should have never created Israel, but if we had to we should have put it out on a island somewhere, not right there.

Originally Posted by SDDep

So...we do what he wants...is that your suggestion?

Originally Posted by SDDep

"We" didn't create Israel...The people of Israel did...and not all Israelis are Jewish...just to be clear..

Originally Posted by Toast Patterson

Only if doing what he wants is the right thing to do anyway

Originally Posted by Toast Patterson

Ah...Im gonna have to respectfully disagree with you here.


Now be quiet

Originally Posted by SDDep

I think your being a bit of a troll to be honest...

Its all about personal opinions...and thats fine...but you lining up with a mass murdering terrorist is a bit daft dont you think..

I am also aware that "one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter"..

But it would be quite a stretch to call Bin Laden a freedom fighter...

Originally Posted by Toast Patterson

I'm not lining up with him, but you gotta empathize with your enemy, wether it's the car salesman trying to sell you a car or Osama Bin Ladin..

I was one of many investors in this documentary BTW
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OAl6MBWnMnw

Originally Posted by shiva

There seems to be a lot of posters (mostly newish) who are keen to jump to the defence and counter attack what they percieve as the unjust attacks on islam and locals/arabs on the bored these days.

out of interest how many of you jumping to the defence are NOT muslim or arab and have been in the region longer than 3 years?

I'm discounting muslims becasue you will obviously jump to defend you fantasy belief system, arabs becasue its a cultural defence and newbies because you havent yet passed any honeymoon period.

I actually am curious as to how many people can be non religious, non arab and manage to maintain either a neutral or positive view towards islam and the locals/culture?

i've been here on and off since the 70's and personally feel the a)islam has in general become a less tolerant and more extreme religion in the region over that time and b) that the locals have most definitely changed with the younger two generations mostly being shits.

I will add a caveat that if you go into the rural areas the above issues disappear almost as if you are reverting in time....curious

Originally Posted by Toast Patterson

All we need to do is stop controlling the wealth, resources and politics of weaker countries, and stop supporting the terrorist state of Israel- and "terrorism" (as if it's a big problem here anyway) will end overnight...

It's our empire
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LqT6E0rXF9g
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NgyL-1ZSdGo

Originally Posted by Spikus

Have you ever asked yourself why? Western aggression and arrogance in the ME dates back to the crusades (probably earlier but I am no history buff) and continues to this day. We may judge ourselves by our intent, however, others judge us by our actions.... and we have nothing to be proud of there. Note, although moving to AD now I have lived and worked in several ME countries over the years.

Originally Posted by Ethos83

The Arabs did a fairly good job nearly conquering Europe....

Islam had European territories under its control far longer than the Crusaders ever managed, who were completely and utterly defeated at the end of the day. The Turks were at the gates of Vienna in the late 17th century. Istanbul has been an Islamic city for five hundred years. It was a Christian city for a thousand years before that. Berber pirates from North Africa terrorised European sea traders in the Mediterranean into the early 19th century.

History isn't one-sided here.

Originally Posted by SDDep

I think your being a bit of a troll to be honest...
.