Twitching & Birdwatching0 min ago
Political argument!
My kids asked me today why exactly does Iraq hate America so much. I wasn't actually sure. Is their argument about oil? What is a simple way of putting it?
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I seem to recall that al-Qaeda was behind the atrocities of 9/11.
al-Qaeda is a militant terrorist organisation of Sunni Islam.
Saddam Hussein was head of the Iraqi Baath Party.
The Baath Party beliefs are secularism, Arab Socialism, nationalism and Pan-Arabism.
It is extremely difficult to forge a link between these two diametrically opposed standpoints.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddam_Hussein_an d_al-Qaeda
al-Qaeda is a militant terrorist organisation of Sunni Islam.
Saddam Hussein was head of the Iraqi Baath Party.
The Baath Party beliefs are secularism, Arab Socialism, nationalism and Pan-Arabism.
It is extremely difficult to forge a link between these two diametrically opposed standpoints.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddam_Hussein_an d_al-Qaeda
When Iraq invaded Kuwait the US went in to get 'em out again. This was a good thing.
The US convinced many factions in Iraq to rise up against Saddam which they did knowing that the US was right behind them. Only they weren't. The US left them to it and Saddam killed many of them.
They're probably still p155ed at being left in the lurch like that.
Not to mention that US foreign policy in the Middle East is rather biased towards Israel.
The US convinced many factions in Iraq to rise up against Saddam which they did knowing that the US was right behind them. Only they weren't. The US left them to it and Saddam killed many of them.
They're probably still p155ed at being left in the lurch like that.
Not to mention that US foreign policy in the Middle East is rather biased towards Israel.
For the majority or ordinary Iraqis I guess it probably boils down to the fact that despite our troops still on their soil they are in the middle of a civil war that's killed more of them than Saddam did in all his time in power.
As llamatron and others point out there are lots of regional issues like promissed support for Kurds not appearing and factional conflicts but rightly or wrongly we're now probably seen as occupying forces that are keeping the violence alive.
I don't know what stokeace is on muddling up 9/11 with Iraq but I'll have a pint of what he's been drinking!
As llamatron and others point out there are lots of regional issues like promissed support for Kurds not appearing and factional conflicts but rightly or wrongly we're now probably seen as occupying forces that are keeping the violence alive.
I don't know what stokeace is on muddling up 9/11 with Iraq but I'll have a pint of what he's been drinking!
Lonnie agrees with me so I had better change my answer.
If your question is inspired by the daily reports of carnage from Iraq, then there is another explaination other than hate.
There are two things going on simultaneously in Iraq and it is easy to confuse the two. Firstly a sectarian civil war, Iraqi Sunni Muslim against Iraqi Shia Muslims. Suicide bombs in marketplaces and the like.
Secondly, a Christian army has been dropped into the middle of this, and that attract sthe mostly foreign fighters who are there to wage an holy war against non Muslims. That accounts for the roadside bombs and attacks on US and British soldiers.
If your question is inspired by the daily reports of carnage from Iraq, then there is another explaination other than hate.
There are two things going on simultaneously in Iraq and it is easy to confuse the two. Firstly a sectarian civil war, Iraqi Sunni Muslim against Iraqi Shia Muslims. Suicide bombs in marketplaces and the like.
Secondly, a Christian army has been dropped into the middle of this, and that attract sthe mostly foreign fighters who are there to wage an holy war against non Muslims. That accounts for the roadside bombs and attacks on US and British soldiers.
It goes a bit further than that. In the perceptions of a large proportion of the world's population, the US have consistently interfered in the affairs of other countries. Some of these interventions may be seen as benign by westerners, but it is the perception of indiginous people that matter. In addition, during the reign of Saddam people had relative peace, reasonably good health services and supplies of water, electricity etc. I am reminded of an elderly woman I met in Moscow. It mattered not that she was free of Communism; the fact was that she could not afford medical care which would previously have been free.
Here is a list of US interventions in the last 50 to 60 years.
China, France, Marshall Islands, India, Greece, Philippines, Korea, Albania, Eastern Europe, Germany, Iran, Guatemala, Costa Rica mid, Indonesia, Haiti, Western Europe, British Guiana/Guyana, Iraq, Soviet Union, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Ecuador, The Congo/Zaire, France/Algeria, Brazil, Peru, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Indonesia, Ghana, Uruguay, Chile, Greece, South Africa, Bolivia, Australia, Iraq, Portugal, East Timor, Angola, Jamaica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Philippines, Seychelles, South Yemen, South Korea, Chad, Grenada, Suriname, Libya, Fiji, Panama, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Haiti, Bulgaria, Albania, Somalia, Iraq, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Yugoslavia,
Here is a list of US interventions in the last 50 to 60 years.
China, France, Marshall Islands, India, Greece, Philippines, Korea, Albania, Eastern Europe, Germany, Iran, Guatemala, Costa Rica mid, Indonesia, Haiti, Western Europe, British Guiana/Guyana, Iraq, Soviet Union, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Ecuador, The Congo/Zaire, France/Algeria, Brazil, Peru, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Indonesia, Ghana, Uruguay, Chile, Greece, South Africa, Bolivia, Australia, Iraq, Portugal, East Timor, Angola, Jamaica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Philippines, Seychelles, South Yemen, South Korea, Chad, Grenada, Suriname, Libya, Fiji, Panama, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Haiti, Bulgaria, Albania, Somalia, Iraq, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Yugoslavia,
Grunty, I was reading through your list of US interventions in the last 50-60 years, and two country names leapt out at me - Australia and Portugal.
Now, I understand the term interventions to mean either some form of military action, or aggressive economic action.. so what were the interventions with respect to Australia and Portugal?
Now, I understand the term interventions to mean either some form of military action, or aggressive economic action.. so what were the interventions with respect to Australia and Portugal?
LazyGun
I believe this list is taken from the book 'Killing Hope: US Military and CIA interventions since World War II' by William Blum,
http://members.aol.com/bblum6/American_holocau st.htm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Hope-Military- Interventions-Since/dp/1842773690/sr=8-1/qid=1 168434390/ref=pd_ka_1/026-4096871-3738826?ie=U TF8&s=books
He offers evidence that the CIA determined the outcome of the 1974 Austraslian election.
I believe this list is taken from the book 'Killing Hope: US Military and CIA interventions since World War II' by William Blum,
http://members.aol.com/bblum6/American_holocau st.htm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Hope-Military- Interventions-Since/dp/1842773690/sr=8-1/qid=1 168434390/ref=pd_ka_1/026-4096871-3738826?ie=U TF8&s=books
He offers evidence that the CIA determined the outcome of the 1974 Austraslian election.
Thanks for the link Gromit.
Looking at the list from the link, it makes allegations of US involvement in Australian politics 1973-75, which I assume would be the removal of Gough Whitlams ALP from power.... can't say I have ever heard of that before.
Still cannot see anything about Portugal... it might be my eyesight though!
Looking at the list from the link, it makes allegations of US involvement in Australian politics 1973-75, which I assume would be the removal of Gough Whitlams ALP from power.... can't say I have ever heard of that before.
Still cannot see anything about Portugal... it might be my eyesight though!
Scarlett,
9/11 had absolutely nothing to do with Saddam and Iraq. You must look to Afghanistan for the routes of 9/11. When Imperilaists (The Soviets) invaded Afghanistan (An Islamic Country), a Jihad or Holy War was declared. Men from many Arab nations but chiefly Saudia Arabia, enlisted to fight for Islam, and as we know, the Soviets were repelled and the victors were Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda. The CIA thought they were using Bin Laden (a CIA operative). Bin Laden thought he was using the US. al-Qaeda regrouped in Sudan after the war and were largely a rabble without a cause, spending their time building roads.
Bin Laden/al-Qaeda believe that Saddam (who they didn't like) was tricked into invading Kuwait. The US took the opportunity of the Gulf War to establish bases in Saudi, the land of the two holiest places in Islam. This is what al-Qaed's beef with the US is about. They are fighting Impirialist invaders again and want the US out of Saudi. al-Qaeda will fight anywhere they percieve that Islam and Islamic peoples are under attack.
WTC was chosen as a target because it symbolised capitalism and imperialist greed. al-Qaeda are Wahabists, an extreme form of Sunni Islam which believe that anyone who is not of their faith (including other muslems, of which many died in 9/11) are legitimate targets.
9/11 had absolutely nothing to do with Saddam and Iraq. You must look to Afghanistan for the routes of 9/11. When Imperilaists (The Soviets) invaded Afghanistan (An Islamic Country), a Jihad or Holy War was declared. Men from many Arab nations but chiefly Saudia Arabia, enlisted to fight for Islam, and as we know, the Soviets were repelled and the victors were Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda. The CIA thought they were using Bin Laden (a CIA operative). Bin Laden thought he was using the US. al-Qaeda regrouped in Sudan after the war and were largely a rabble without a cause, spending their time building roads.
Bin Laden/al-Qaeda believe that Saddam (who they didn't like) was tricked into invading Kuwait. The US took the opportunity of the Gulf War to establish bases in Saudi, the land of the two holiest places in Islam. This is what al-Qaed's beef with the US is about. They are fighting Impirialist invaders again and want the US out of Saudi. al-Qaeda will fight anywhere they percieve that Islam and Islamic peoples are under attack.
WTC was chosen as a target because it symbolised capitalism and imperialist greed. al-Qaeda are Wahabists, an extreme form of Sunni Islam which believe that anyone who is not of their faith (including other muslems, of which many died in 9/11) are legitimate targets.
Why do some people hate America?
For imposing their views on other nations whilst thinking their society is the one they should adopt.
For thinking that money can buy everything and when the war is not going to plan, spending a few more billions on troops to right a wrong instead of admitting their gross mistake.
For acting like an imperial power
For destroying any foreign competition on an international scale. (ie take steel imports or food subsidies)
And so on!
For imposing their views on other nations whilst thinking their society is the one they should adopt.
For thinking that money can buy everything and when the war is not going to plan, spending a few more billions on troops to right a wrong instead of admitting their gross mistake.
For acting like an imperial power
For destroying any foreign competition on an international scale. (ie take steel imports or food subsidies)
And so on!
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