# Terrorists- Defenders or radical muslims? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 25, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923 "2008-01-25T04:55:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![timtupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@timtupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timtupp)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/1 "2008-01-25T04:55:57Z")
Some Muslims (and maybe non-Muslims) claim that suicide bombers, those who crashed into the WTC, etc. aren’t doing God’s work by killing the unbelievers as the media sometimes claims, but are retaliating against innocent Americans because of the aid and money that the U.S. gives Israel which doesn’t allow Palestinians to live freely. In this way they compare what terrorists do, to what the U.S. did to innocent Japanese citizens in Hiroshima. Is there any evidence that 911 and other atrocities that were and are committed by “radical” Muslims are committed because of religious beliefs and not political ones? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/2 "2008-01-25T05:00:10Z")
I prefer to think they do it because they’re assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/3 "2008-01-25T05:26:13Z")
I would guess it probably differs from person to person, and quite probably there’s a mix of both religious faith and political hatred in all Islamic terrorists. People can have more than one reason to do something. I’ve never heard of the comparison to the nuclear bombing, though. New one on me. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/4 "2008-01-25T05:55:16Z")
It seems hard, in many cases, to distinguish religious beliefs from political beliefs. It seems especially so in this case. I don’t buy into the idea that these guys are psychopaths, naturally different from us civilized westerners, genetically evil, whatever. So I suppose I am left with the idea that like Nazi soldiers, not all of whom could have been totally evil just by the laws of chance, they are able to justify their actions to themselves in some way as positive. In the sense that I can wrap my mind around it, I imagine that their thoughts are mostly political as we would think of them. They seek to achieve a goal rather than to prove their piety or to punish sinners. This is not anything close to evidence, I should probably just shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Renob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Renob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renob)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/5 "2008-01-25T14:44:45Z")
I think it’s pretty clear that the terrorists who are targeting America aren’t doing it because they want to kill unbelievers. If that was the case, there are many unbelievers much closer to home. Why not just head to Egypt and kill some Coptic Christians or to Lebanon and kill some of their Christians. Hell, there are small Christian communities in Iraq that I’m sure would be an easy target. Instead, al Qaeda and its ilk are targeting America for political reasons. Its support if Israel is a large one, as well as its support of the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both of whom are viewed by al Qaeda as being corrupt. These terrorists also want to overthrow the governments in these countries. Would they be targeting these Muslims if their beef was merely that some people don’t believe in Islam? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/6 "2008-01-25T14:59:14Z")
> [@](#): > > **Terrorists- Defenders or radical muslims?** Why can’t they be both, like the late Earl Warren? ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/7 "2008-01-25T15:07:37Z")
[QUOTE=timtupp] Some Muslims (and maybe non-Muslims) claim that suicide bombers, those who crashed into the WTC, etc. aren’t doing God’s work by killing the unbelievers as the media sometimes claims, but are retaliating against innocent Americans because of the aid and money that the U.S. gives Israel which doesn’t allow Palestinians to live freely. In this way they compare what terrorists do, to what the U.S. did to innocent Japanese citizens in Hiroshima. Is there any evidence that 911 and other atrocities that were and are committed by “radical” Muslims are committed because of religious beliefs and not political ones? [/QUOTE] Their motivation is political in the sense that they want to destroy societies which harbor and foster enemies of Islam. Their religion is the enabler for their choice of suicide missions as their weapon. I haven’t seen any evidence that the 9/11 crowd is only weakly religious, agnostic, or atheistic. It’s a little easier to deliberate die for a cause if this life is not the whole show, and if there are some virgins waiting. Their enemy is not so much non-believers in general as it is non-believers who are perceived as enemies of Islam. Their loyalty is not political affiliation, but fealty to Allah. ---
**Author:** ![timtupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@timtupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timtupp)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/8 "2008-01-25T15:25:08Z")
[QUOTE=Chief Pedant] Their religion is the enabler for their choice of suicide missions as their weapon. [/quote] [QUOTE=Chief Pedant] It’s a little easier to deliberate die for a cause if this life is not the whole show, and if there are some virgins waiting. [/quote] Probably. But plenty of people from all sort of cultures have willingly died for their nationalism and not because of their religion, regardless of whether or not dying may be easier for the religious. [QUOTE=Chief Pedant] Their loyalty is not political affiliation, but fealty to Allah. [/QUOTE] Direct evidence of this is what I’m looking for. I have a feeling you’re correct, but when I bring up how Islam is harmful to some of my Muslim friends, they respond by telling me how the media is falsely blaming the religion, which they claim is not the motivator for the fighting and killing. I guess what I’m looking for is something along the lines of statements by Bin Laden or other leaders of radical Islamic groups where you can point to Islam as the direct reason acts were carried out. Something like, “Our actions have been carried out to kill the unbelievers wherever we find them in accordance to the will of Allah.” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/9 "2008-01-25T15:49:00Z")
> [@timtup](#): > > I guess what I’m looking for is something along the lines of statements by Bin Laden or other leaders of radical Islamic groups where you can point to Islam as the direct reason acts were carried out. Something like, “Our actions have been carried out to kill the unbelievers wherever we find them in accordance to the will of Allah.” bin Laden has made a number of statements. [These are widely available.](http://www.robert-fisk.com/letter_from_usama_to_america_24Nov2002.htm) One from 2002 begins with some quotes from the Q’uran. > [@](#): > > “Permission to fight (against disbelievers) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged and surely, Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory” [Quran 22:39] > > “Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut (anything worshipped other than Allah e.g. Satan). So fight you against the friends of Satan; ever feeble is indeed the plot of Satan.” [Quran 4:76] He then lists some of the grievances he claims against the West. But there is no distinction between religion and politics in Islam, particularly Islamo-fascism. The idea is to set up an Islamic society, subject to _sharia_ law. bin Laden says so explicitly - > [@](#): > > As for the second question that we want to answer: What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you? > > (1) The first thing that we are calling you to is Islam. > > (a) The religion of the Unification of God; of freedom from associating partners with Him, and rejection of this; of complete love of Him, the Exalted; of complete submission to His Laws; and of the discarding of all the opinions, orders, theories and religions which contradict with the religion He sent down to His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Islam is the religion of all the prophets, and makes no distinction between them - peace be upon them all. > > It is to this religion that we call you; the seal of all the previous religions. It is the religion of Unification of God, sincerity, the best of manners, righteousness, mercy, honour, purity, and piety. It is the religion of showing kindness to others, establishing justice between them, granting them their rights, and defending the oppressed and the persecuted. It is the religion of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil with the hand, tongue and heart. It is the religion of Jihad in the way of Allah so that Allah’s Word and religion reign Supreme… > You are the nation who, rather than ruling by the Shariah of Allah in its Constitution and Laws, choose to invent your own laws as you will and desire. You separate religion from your policies, contradicting the pure nature which affirms Absolute Authority to the Lord and your Creator. He then goes on to call on us to outlaw alcohol, eliminate gay rights, gambling and stock ownership, women’s right to work, etc. So al-Queda attacked us because we are not an Islamo-fascist society. Both religious and political ideas combined. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/10 "2008-01-25T19:26:56Z")
It’s worth noting that Al Quaeda didn’t even bother using Palestine as a propaganda point until well after 9/11, when they despertely needed support because we were smashing the Taliban in Afganistan. I’m sure Al-Q has no love for Israel, but the unification of all Muslims under their banner apparently takes precedence. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/11 "2008-01-25T21:51:33Z")
True, just as I suspect bin Laden doesn’t give a particular shit about AIDS, but still feels it necessary to blame its appearance on the West. Likewise pollution - he’s simply trying to rally as many as possible around his brand of thinking. > [@](#): > > …unification of all Muslims under their banner apparently takes precedence. Well, providing they buy 100% into his brand of Islamo-fascism. I would bet he would quickly wind up like Phred Phelps - condemning those he sees as luke-warm on his side with the same vehemence he condemns those who are really against him. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![timtupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@timtupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timtupp)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/12 "2008-01-25T23:35:41Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] bin Laden has made a number of statements. [These are widely available.](http://www.robert-fisk.com/letter_from_usama_to_america_24Nov2002.htm) One from 2002 begins with some quotes from the Q’uran.He then lists some of the grievances he claims against the West. [/QUOTE] But this part is he most telling: > [@](#): > > As for the first question: Why are we fighting and opposing you? The answer is very simple: > > (1) Because you attacked us and continue to attack us. It wasn’t “Because you attack us and you haven’t submitted to Islam”. [QUOTE=Shodan] So al-Queda attacked us because we are not an Islamo-fascist society. [/quote] That’s not a logical conclusion given the reasons for attacks was fully answered in Q1. What is being asked for from America after the fact is seems irrelevant to the answer given for the reason for the attacks. [QUOTE=smiling bandit] It’s worth noting that Al Quaeda didn’t even bother using Palestine as a propaganda point until well after 9/11 [/quote] I remember Bin Laden using Palestine as a reason for the hatred towards America well before 9-11 and specifically saying in an interview that the WTC bombing in '93 had nothing to do with religion and everything to do with U.S. support to Israel. [Here](http://www.crimelibrary.com/terrorists_spies/terrorists/laden/3.html) are some statements by Bin Laden in '96. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/13 "2008-01-26T13:27:53Z")
[QUOTE=timtupp] That’s not a logical conclusion given the reasons for attacks was fully answered in Q1. What is being asked for from America after the fact is seems irrelevant to the answer given for the reason for the attacks. [/QUOTE] It’s the same thing. > [@](#): > > If the Americans refuse to listen to our advice and the goodness, guidance and righteousness that we call them to, then be aware that you will lose this Crusade Bush began… ‘We attacked you because of this, and we advise you to do that or we will continue to attack you’ is what bin Laden is saying. He gives a lot of reasons why he hates America, including support for Palestinians, because we invented AIDS, because we trade on the stock market, because we don’t subject ourselves to _sharia_ law, because Clinton had an affair with an intern, and so forth. As I mentioned earlier, I doubt that he really cares about the Kyoto treaty or the bombing of Nagasaki, but he is throwing a lot of shit and hoping some of it will stick. > [@](#): > > It wasn’t “Because you attack us and you haven’t submitted to Islam”. Actually, yes it was. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/14 "2008-01-26T13:35:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I remember Bin Laden using Palestine as a reason for the hatred towards America well before 9-11 and specifically saying in an interview that the WTC bombing in '93 had nothing to do with religion and everything to do with U.S. support to Israel. Here are some statements by Bin Laden in '96. Well, I only read the first page or so, but the first statements listed on the page to which you linked are about Saudi Arabia and the US presence there, and don’t mention the Palestinians. Lebanon, Iraq, and Bosnia, yes, but he doesn’t get around to complaining about Palestine specifically until 1997. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/15 "2008-01-26T13:39:24Z")
[QUOTE=Renob] I think it’s pretty clear that the terrorists who are targeting America aren’t doing it because they want to kill unbelievers. If that was the case, there are many unbelievers much closer to home. Why not just head to Egypt and kill some Coptic Christians or to Lebanon and kill some of their Christians. Hell, there are small Christian communities in Iraq that I’m sure would be an easy target. [/QUOTE] Alas, the Copts in Egypt, Marionites in Lebanon & Iraqui Christians are all being targeted. ---
**Author:** ![timtupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@timtupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timtupp)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/16 "2008-01-26T16:15:36Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] It’s the same thing. [/quote] > [@](#): > > If the Americans refuse to listen to our advice and the goodness, guidance and righteousness that we call them to, then be aware that you will lose this Crusade Bush began… C’mon, attacking the U.S. for “Bush’s crusade” and all of the other reasons here: > [@](#): > > a) You attacked us in Palestine: > > (i) Palestine, which has sunk under military occupation for more than 80 years. The British handed over Palestine, with your help and your support, to the Jews, who have occupied it for more than 50 years; years overflowing with oppression, tyranny, crimes, killing, expulsion, destruction and devastation. The creation and continuation of Israel is one of the greatest crimes, and you are the leaders of its criminals. And of course there is no need to explain and prove the degree of American support for Israel. The creation of Israel is a crime which must be erased. Each and every person whose hands have become polluted in the contribution towards this crime must pay its\*price, and pay for it heavily. > > (ii) It brings us both laughter and tears to see that you have not yet tired of repeating your fabricated lies that the Jews have a historical right to Palestine, as it was promised to them in the Torah. Anyone who disputes with them on this alleged fact is accused of anti-semitism. This is one of the most fallacious, widely-circulated fabrications in history. The people of Palestine are pure Arabs and original Semites. It is the Muslims who are the inheritors of Moses (peace be upon him) and the inheritors of the real Torah that has not been changed. Muslims believe in all of the Prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all. If the followers of Moses have been promised a right to Palestine in the Torah, then the Muslims are the most worthy nation of this. > > When the Muslims conquered Palestine and drove out the Romans, Palestine and Jerusalem returned to Islaam, the religion of all the Prophets peace be upon them. Therefore, the call to a historical right to Palestine cannot be raised against the Islamic Ummah that believes in all the Prophets of Allah (peace and blessings be upon them) - and we make no distinction between them. > > (iii) The blood pouring out of Palestine must be equally revenged. You must know that the Palestinians do not cry alone; their women are not widowed alone; their sons are not orphaned alone. > > (b) You attacked us in Somalia; you supported the Russian atrocities against us in Chechnya, the Indian oppression against us in Kashmir, and the Jewish aggression against us in Lebanon. > > (c) Under your supervision, consent and orders, the governments of our countries which act as your agents, attack us on a daily basis; > > (i) These governments prevent our people from establishing the Islamic Shariah, using violence and lies to do so. > > (ii) These governments give us a taste of humiliation, and places us in a large prison of fear and subdual. > > (iii) These governments steal our Ummah’s wealth and sell them to you at a paltry price. > > (iv) These governments have surrendered to the Jews, and handed them most of Palestine, acknowledging the existence of their state over the dismembered limbs of their own people. > > (v) The removal of these governments is an obligation upon us, and a necessary step to free the Ummah, to make the Shariah the supreme law and to regain Palestine. And our fight against these governments is not separate from out fight against you. > > (d) You steal our wealth and oil at paltry prices because of you international influence and military threats. This theft is indeed the biggest theft ever witnessed by mankind in the history of the world. > > (e) Your forces occupy our countries; you spread your military bases throughout them; you corrupt our lands, and you besiege our sanctities, to protect the security of the Jews and to ensure the continuity of your pillage of our treasures. > > (f) You have starved the Muslims of Iraq, where children die every day. It is a wonder that more than 1.5 million Iraqi children have died as a result of your sanctions, and you did not show concern. Yet when 3000 of your people died, the entire world rises and has not yet sat down. > > (g) You have supported the Jews in their idea that Jerusalem is their eternal capital, and agreed to move your embassy there. With your help and under your protection, the Israelis are planning to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque. Under the protection of your weapons, Sharon entered the Al-Aqsa mosque, to pollute it as a preparation to capture and destroy it. > > (2) These tragedies and calamities are only a few examples of your oppression and aggression against us. It is commanded by our religion and intellect that the oppressed have a right to return the aggression. Do not await anything from us but Jihad, resistance and revenge. Is it in any way rational to expect that after America has attacked us for more than half a century, that we will then leave her to live in security and peace?!! > > (3) You may then dispute that all the above does not justify aggression against civilians, for crimes they did not commit and offenses in which they did not partake: > > (a) This argument contradicts your continuous repetition that America is the land of freedom, and its leaders in this world. Therefore, the American people are the ones who choose their government by way of their own free will; a choice which stems from their agreement to its policies. Thus the American people have chosen, consented to, and affirmed their support for the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians, the occupation and usurpation of their land, and its continuous killing, torture, punishment and expulsion of the Palestinians. The American people have the ability and choice to refuse the policies of their Government and even to change it if they want. > > (b) The American people are the ones who pay the taxes which fund the planes that bomb us in Afghanistan, the tanks that strike and destroy our homes in Palestine, the armies which occupy our lands in the Arabian Gulf, and the fleets which ensure the blockade of Iraq. These tax dollars are given to Israel for it to continue to attack us and penetrate our lands. So the American people are the ones who fund the attacks against us, and they are the ones who oversee the expenditure of these monies in the way they wish, through their elected candidates. > > (c) Also the American army is part of the American people. It is this very same people who are shamelessly helping the Jews fight against us. > > (d) The American people are the ones who employ both their men and their women in the American Forces which attack us. > > (e) This is why the American people cannot be not innocent of all the crimes committed by the Americans and Jews against us. > > (f) Allah, the Almighty, legislated the permission and the option to take revenge. Thus, if we are attacked, then we have the right to attack back. Whoever has destroyed our villages and towns, then we have the right to destroy their villages and towns. Whoever has stolen our wealth, then we have the right to destroy their economy. And whoever has killed our civilians, then we have the right to kill theirs. > > The American Government and press still refuses to answer the question: > > Why did they attack us in New York and Washington? > > If Sharon is a man of peace in the eyes of Bush, then we are also men of peace!!! America does not understand the language of manners and principles, so we are addressing it using the language it understands. Is not the same as attacking us for religious reasons. [QUOTE=Shodan] It’s the same thing. [/quote] ‘We attacked you because of this, and we advise you to do that or we will continue to attack you’ is what bin Laden is saying. [/QUOTE] No, the religious parts were “a call to the U.S.”. You are ignoring the answer to the question, "Why are we fighting and opposing you? " It was a simple “Because you attacked us and continue to attack us.”. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/17 "2008-01-26T18:28:49Z")
_:shrugs:_ If you want to pick out one set of reasons from bin Laden’s various screeds and ignore the rest, go ahead. As I said earlier, there is no real distinction to be made between religion and politics in the mind of Islamo-fascists. If bin Laden is so focussed on Palestine, why did he make his first attacks in Somalia? Why did his first manifesto mention only the US presence in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![timtupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@timtupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timtupp)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/18 "2008-01-26T20:03:29Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] _:shrugs:_ If you want to pick out one set of reasons from bin Laden’s various screeds and ignore the rest, go ahead. [/quote] I didn’t. I showed you that the answer given by bin Laden was that the _reason_ for attacks was given in one sentence: "“Because you attacked us and continue to attack us.”. I’m not ignoring what was “a call to the U.S.”. I pointed out that the calling to wasn’t and isn’t the reason for any attacks. [QUOTE=Shodan] As I said earlier, there is no real distinction to be made between religion and politics in the mind of Islamo-fascists. [/quote] Saying it is easy. That’s not what I’m looking for. [QUOTE=Shodan] If bin Laden is so focussed on Palestine, why did he make his first attacks in Somalia? Why did his first manifesto mention only the US presence in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War? [/QUOTE] You tell me. Do you think it’s because the attacks in Somalia were based on religious differences? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-defenders-or-radical-muslims/434923/19 "2008-01-27T00:41:34Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I prefer to think they do it because they’re assholes. [/QUOTE] I agree.