[tw]

Originally posted by russotto
IMO, the solution to al-Queda has to be ruthless and complete. Not just execution of bin Laden, but that of everyone in the organization with any clue of what's going on. The destruction of all those "terrorist training camps" (conveniently located in the desert, away from possible collateral damage). Capture of as much of his cached assets as possible

It is an ideal solution for the isolated problem called Al Qaeda. But it does not solve a fundamental problem - the reason why the world really changed about 1990 (the world did not change last 11th September). The Economist describes an overall Arab outlook in three points:

Three main factors influenced the way these countries respond to American power. One is the growing politicalisation of Islam. Islamist movement have found America a useful counterpoint to their own, sometimes vague, ideas. ...
A second influence on attitude to America is the dismal record of governments in the region, many of which are propped up by America aid or arms. To Americans, this support looks like the price they pay for stability. To many Arabs and Muslims, burdened with poor housing and schools and restricted freedoms, it looks like the price they pay to ensure American hegemony. ...
A third influence is America's growing tendancy towards unilateralism. Kicking sand in the face of dictators goes down better in Kansas that in Kandahar.

Noted is the Oslo Accords where Americans

pushed other interlocutors out of the way ... A decade later, Israel had doubled its settlement of the occupied territories and the Palestinians errupted in revolt. For all its protests that it has tried to be an honest broker, America cannot shake the impression that it was fiddling while Gaza burned.

Point one: America cannot have any influence in those events because of how it handles points two and three. Point two: is a problem often as a result of compromise. However too often America does not compromise at all as demonstrated by American support for the Shah of Iran and for protecting and supporting a mass murderer Ariel Sharon - one of the men all but responsible for the assassination of Rabin. Point three: most Americans don't even recognize let alone understand the problem of point three.

For example, what were the Marines doing in Beruit Lebanon during the days of Reagan? They were there directly as a result of total American ignorance and therefore without even a mission statement, ammunition, or proper equipment. (BTW, much of that looked like it was created by one with intelligence of Col Oliver North.)

The death of 200+ Marines then is directly attributed to an American public that still does not understand the incompetence of their government at that time and that problably knew nothing in a post entitled "Latest World Update".

Having read that post, did anyone notice that Edward Shevardnadze is suddenly in Washington? Why is the US press saying he is here to advise Bush on Afghanistan? His direct involvement with Afghanistan was over a decade ago. That is the difference between an American perspective and an international perspective. The international perspective was in that other post.

The Economist defined what every American must first understand before they can have opinions on this thread:

The result? On the streets of Cairo today, it is hard to find a soul who admits to believing the FBI's version of events on September 11th. Many are convinced that the whole thing was a plot to smear Arabs and Muslims as crazed madmen. More will have read the writings which suggest that America's real intention is to capture Afghanistan to keep China out of the Gulf. .... But to recapture credibility, America has to show understanding of its allies' need to manage public opinion.

What the Ecomomist does not mention is that regardless of what you think, most of the world (including many in Europe) believe that the US backs the stealing of land from and the persecution of Palestinians. Based upon events in Israel since the death of Rabin (and even the extremist, distorted commentary by former NYC Mayor Koch on Bloomberg on the Weekend), then it is hard to dispute this Muslim and Arab opinion.

How misled is American perspective of this overriding problem? Well, how many publications make this key distinction - "Arabs and Muslims"? American press too often assumes all Arabs are Muslim and all Muslims are Arabs.

What will be the first indication that America has been awakened. America will not only say that Palestinians have a right to an independent country (as even George Jr is beginning to concede). America instead will demand that settlement from Israel including, this time, meeting the one demand that Arafat required - all the details be defined up front. How do you take the wind out of future bin Ladens? Remove support from right wing, mass murdering extremists (Ariel Sharon) and give the Palestinians their homeland per the intent of UN Resolution 242 and the Oslo Accords. Failure to do this simple task will result in more Al Qaedas.

As of 1990 Kuwait and 1991 in Madrid, the world changed - from American perspectives. We are now fully involved in all region conflicts. Failure to resolve those conflicts will only result in more terrorism. That 'honest broker' requirement is the long term solution. When did the world change. Not 11 Sept. It changed on 1 Aug 1990. American public just did not notice the change nor all the previous attacks until 11 Sept.