One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist

Not everyone was surprised by the attack on New York City. I wasn't, and I have no Intelligence agencies giving me data.

Terrorists had made their attempt at toppling the World Trade Center in 1993 and the animosity towards the western world has increased ten-fold since then. So why the surprise that they would try again and again?

The US is the obvious target as it is the power behind the western world. The rest of us are not immune from this intense hatred. We are only fortunate that the current terrorists have no missiles and nuclear weapons yet. We had better be concerned. We are the tail of the same gigantic economic entity that is known to much of the world as "the Great Satan".

The terrorists will never need missiles. As demonstrated, they can use existing transportation systems for their weapons - as well as for the weapon itself.

The bitter hatred is a reality and yet we fail to ask ourselves the question . "Why are we (and the USA in particular) hated so much?" Searching for the answer in the nationality and religion of the perpetrators is futile. The answer isn't there. These are not the source of the problem.

The source of the problem is in the historical records, the current actions, and ambitions, of the US and the rest of us who follow their lead, Canada included. Put yourself in the shoes of any Arabic or Persian speaking individual (or virtually anyone else in the third world). Look at some of the few things that have happened in my lifetime. In Iran, the Americans supported a repressive regime and helped the Iranian Shah and his cronies stay in power. Many died. When this failed the US supported Saddam and Iraq in the war against Iran. Millions died. When Saddam became too powerful they beat the country to a pulp and continue to inflict terrible hardship daily. In all 200,000 Iraqis were killed in 6 weeks and another 1.5 million have died because of sanctions - including 600,000 children under 5 years of age. It is a terrorist act unworthy of so-called Christians.

When the Russians invaded Afghanistan the Americans trained and supported bin Laden to fight. Now he is the most hated man in America and is taking the blame before the proof has been gathered. The US financial beast has torn up treaties now that the Cold War is over and they now rule supreme. They bomb Afghanistan, Sudan, Yugoslavia and Iraq and get us to come along for the ride. They maintain a string of unjust embargoes on anyone who fails to sign on to the globalization of the planet in the corporate ways of the USA.

So how are terrorists spawned? Isn't it obvious? When someone loses friends, countrymen, and relatives to injustice in any nation - with any religion - what happens? Hatred! What do they seek? Revenge!

Even in Christian countries we have Freedom Fighters as heroes and martyrs. Should we expect less of Moslems, Jews, Hindus, or Buddhists? Saddam Hussein is the second most hated at the moment, but he is probably the one who will take the brunt of the American retaliation. American and British aircraft already inflict death daily with their bombs.

Perhaps we should reflect on the words of Mahatma Gandhi. When he was asked his opinion on western civilization, he said "it would be a good idea."

Have a nice day.