John Reid says we are under terrorist threat. Which government was it that caused others to hate us?

Answer 1

Our own. Sounds weird. I'm not saying i hate our government, but ... you know i don't think i can tell you the rest cause i don't want to get in trouble.

Answer 2

I think at the end of the day- jihadi's would use any excuse what so ever to cause terrorism- even if we had the nicest old lady inviting everyone over for crumpets, scones and tea in power.

As much as I loathe the criminally inept and bumbler Reid, and the woeful New Labour incumbents- it is the mentality of Islamicist that creates the hate- linking the UK with the US for propping up repressive undemocratic regimes in resource rich Middle East.
Iraq was definitely the last straw for the camel's back- but Saudi money for spreading Islamic orthodoxy and jihadist mentality has been ongoing for at least 8+ years.
For example- it is a major problem in countries like Indonesia- where the Saudis set up madrassa (pesantren in Indonesian) and provide cheap 'education' (read: indoctrination) to the poor- thus creating a powerbase of brainwashed, young, disaffected, poverty-afflicted youth blaming the west rather than their own leaders' for their problems.
Pakistan has long been a target for the jihadi movement- so moral of the story is where the government cannot or is unable to provide some form of accessible welfare to the poor- the Saudis will cleverly step in and fund madrassa. For the average farmer- some education even if it is muslim education, is better than none at all.

That's how it all starts and blame the Middle Easterners- especially the Saudis. They're the ones with the money and Wahabist ideology to instigate jihad. And perhaps bl;ame the West too for not insisting on greater accountability for their aid money.

Good god- how does Voice of Reason always manage to find good in bad? He must be the perpetual optimist!

Answer 3

Governments can certainly try to inspire emotions in people, but you can hardly put all the hatred directed towards the US at the feat of a single administration.

For instance, hatred towards the west in general, and the US in particular, is largely predicated on the Arab-Israeli conflict. That conflict has been perpetuated by the policies of the Israeli government - which stubbornly insists on continuing to exist. But, it was really initiated because of decisions made by the British government and the UN, over the disposition of the mandate of Palestine. Said hatred is also fueled by Wahabbism, a religious faction heavily funded by the House of Saud - in effect, the government of Saudi Arabia.

Decades of Soviet propaganda haven't exactly left large portions of the world with favorable impressions of the US, either - and that includes some people /in/ the US.

The economic disparity between the USA and it's southern neighbor, Mexico, is also doubtless cause for some considerable emnity, as well - but the lack of economic success of that country is partly attributable to it's government (while the economic success of the US has largely been in spite of it's government).

So, I think you're going to have a hard time pinning it down. And, even if you do, you'll still be ignoring many other possible reasons that have little to do with government. Religion, for instance.

Answer 4

As a former colonial power perhaps the greatest, there have always been organisations which for various reasons real or imagined hated us. The Bush/Bliar sponsored attack on Iraq has influenced many Muslims in this country to profess hatred to-wards us which is a bit rich coming from people who have enjoyed a better life here than ever they would have had in their families country of origin.
The 'Voice of Reason' is right in some of what he says but as usual gives his political leanings away in a paean of praise for Anthony Bliar.

Answer 5

Well I think we can guess what you want our answer to be. And you are, of course, completely wrong.

Of all British post war Governments the Blair administration has done most to cause people not to hate us: he supported intervention in the Balkans, bringing peace to that area and putting an end to ethnic cleansing of, particularly, Muslims. He intervened in Sierra Leone and brought stable government to that troubled land. And he actively supported the road map for peace in Palestine. He also brought to an end the threat of Irish Nationalist Terrorism.

Ah, but Iraq, you'll say.

But remember 9/11 happened before Iraq. so did Bali. And the recent trial of Islamic terrorists in London was around their plot to bomb the Bluewater shopping centre and a night club in 2001, well before the "convenient excuse" of Iraq.

Answer 6

You can't blame just one of them,we have always been under terrorist threat,whether it be the IRA or the Taliban or even go back to the Germans,it has and will always go on ,so dont try to blame one political party,they are all to blame or not, as the case may be.

Answer 7

The Truman admin. for recognizing Israel. The Nixon admin. for saving Israel. The Carter admin. for not kicking Iran's butt when provoked. The Bush admin. for botching the occupation of Iraq. Each one adds to the last. Each a little worse than the last.

Answer 8

I think it's our way of life/policy towards them that they dislike. The 9/11 attacks happened before the Iraq war, what was the motivation for that?

Answer 9

The U.S. is like a single father with ten teenage daughters. Everyone hates him but he still has to feed and clothe everybody, while still trying to keep the peace and his own sanity.

Answer 10

I bet a lot of people in the middle east would agree that they too, are under terrorist threat, America imperialism, disguised as promoting democracy is terrorism.

Bush can lie (he often does) to the American people all he wants too, our interests in Iraq are monetary.
America is not in the middle east to promote freedom, but rather economic servitude.