Why so few terrorists in the states? Is it because Muslims live so well here?

Question

I see what Bush was trying to do. If Iraq became a free market society where people were free it would spread like a virus throughout the region. The desperation which breeds terrorism would cease to exist. I think that is why they are so desperate to stop the Iraq thing from working out. If it does terrorism in the name of Islam will die. What do you think?

Answer 1

That was my theory.

The problem with Muslim nations is that the leaders are the ones with radically bad ideas. Those that believe in what we believe in don't have any power.

And you know, it takes some time to really put together a good plan. Don't be surprised to see bad things start to happen here too. Those doctors in London or wherever weren't fresh on the boat were they?

Answer 2

This is a very interesting question... I don't believe that terrorism will ever die as with retaliation or
in the name of Islam. It might take a third world war in order for things to really be revealed. I don't look forward to seeing this but it might have to come to that. I believe the next president will not be a democrat. Someone will need to pick up where Bush left off and it must take another demonic force.

I am not taking any sides here.

Answer 3

Partly you are correct. Violence and political instability are the result of people being desperate and oppressed--and in thosse circumstances people often resort to terror as a tactic. Such people, however, aren't the "terrorists--they are simply hopeless enough to be seduce d by groups who are after power--e.g., al-Qaida and Hezbollah.

And yes, that is why there's no domestic terrorsm among Muslims in the US We have our share of groups that are intolerant and power hungry--but in the US they areassociated with the right wing and religous right (e.g. the Klu Klux Klan)--not Muslims. But we see only limited violence from these groups--they can't get the support they need from a free and prosperous population.

Where you're off is with regard to the Bush administration. I f their intent had really been to promote prosperity and freedom in the region, they would have conentrated on finishing off the Taliban and al-Qaida 5 years ago-and put our resources into helping the Afghan people rebuild their economy and institutions. Instead, thee Bush adminstration failed to do that, instead inventing a pretext to invade a country that wasn't a terrorist threat, nor had attacked us. Nor--as is tragically obvious--did they bother to formulate any plan to Iraq afterward.

I know what Bush's rhetoric is. But--actions speak far louder than words--and his actions give the lie to his words.

Answer 4

Much of the terrorism in the US is homegrown and secular.
Hamas was elected democratically and they are a terrorist organization.
Hamas' charter (written in 1988 and still in effect) calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
It is my opinion that democracy in itself is not inherently good.
Bush and his neocon cronies made a lot of asumptions based on bad logic.
I do believe, however, that improved socio-economic conditions will lead to less terrorism.
I also believe that there will always be some form of terrorism

Answer 5

No, it wouldn't spread like a virus.

Iran is already a democratic republic..... that doesn't stop the people from electing a hard-line leader. Same with Palestine.

But, yes, an general overall economic improvement would drastically cut down on the number of criminals (terrorists), the same way we have less gangs in the suburbs than in the inner cities in the US.

Answer 6

I don't think there's a critical mass of islamists in the states, yet. Most of the Muslims in the US probably came here to excape extremism, in the first place, so are not enclined to embrace the jihadi agenda.

But, between radical clerics entering the country to preach and young muslims groping for identity (and finding it less than desireabel to identify with a nation as mired in self-hatred as America), that may well be changing.

Answer 7

There are fewer terrorists here because the situation isn't as dire here. I poor muslum in detroit still has it better than a poor muslim in Gaza or even a muslim living in a Paris Ghetto where they are seen as interlopers.

When people are that poor they are susceptable to people telling them anything to make their situation better and being told that your family will be taken care of if you strap this vest on and run in that market suddenly makes sense.

Answer 8

I think you are dead on correct. Plus, with all the anti-American propaganda going on, surely using Iraq as a demonstration for American values (provided all goes well) will effectively counter the anti-US messages that spread in the region by providing an example of what we stand for.

Answer 9

I do think naively that's what Bush was trying to do. But I don't think it will work. Not with the Imam's creating Islamic policy in the mosques behind closed doors.

Answer 10

Perhaps here they are able to receive news without it being filtered and distorted by the government run news agencies?

Perhaps the schools here don't tell them Jews are evil?

Perhaps because the television stations here don't have miniseries like the anti-zionist propaganda "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", etc?