Why did it take radical Islam over 200 years to decide they hate our freedom?

Answer 1

So-called" radical Islam" isn't about "hating our freedom" and never was. Militancy among Muslims emerged in various regions--notably what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh prior to ww2--as resistance to colonial domination by the West. It became further radicalized in North Africa followingWW2, especially in Algeria where French attempts to retain their colonial empire led some to adopt terror tactics against the French. Further radicalization took place when the Palistinians were forced by the hundreds of thousands from their homes andlands to make room for the new Jewish state of Israel.

An added dimension appeared in the 1970s and 1980s. Tracing back to a US backed coup overturning the democratic government in Iran and the installation of the Shah's dictatorship, Iran became a radical Islamic state when the Shah was deposed in the late 1970s. The Russian invasion of Aghanistan in 1979 led to a further emergence of the radicals--and to a further identification of fundamentalist religion with radical politics. The policy instituted at this time by Israel of colonizing non-Israeli territory under occupation with settlers in an effort to make the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza also prompted further radicalization. Following the Prsian Gulf war, many Muslims viewed the continuing US presence in Saudi Arabia as an offense--non-Muslims maintaining a military presence on land many consider sacred. This wasn't helped by the antipathy toward the ruling clans of Saudi Arabia felt by many Muslims in te region.

Despite al this, most Muslims found the 9/11 attack appalling--and on balance, most supported the US move against the Taliban and al-Qaida in 2002--and even the invasion of Iraq--until it became clear that the "raison d'etre" for the war had nothing to do with either US security (no WMD) or combating al-Qaida (no ties between al-Qaida and Iraq). From there, the level of anti-Americanism has climbed steadily. Most Muslims, however, do not hate the West--they simply want us to leave. And--other than the handful of extremists who are the core of al-Qaida and othe rterrorist organizations, no one "hates our freedom."

Answer 2

Radical Islam has always had a hate for the western world and any and all other religions. This includes freedoms to practice religion as one chooses. It has been after Radical Islam began gaining control in some of these countries that problems occurred.
For example, after the Shah of Iran was forced out and the Khomeini regime took over, there were 52 American hostages taken for our embassy there.
Back in the 1950's, there was a Catholic school in Baghdad, and religious freedom was common. That was before Radical Islam took over.
Until the late '70s, this country trained fighter pilots from Iraq, and Iran, as well as several other Mid-Eastern countries, (Syria, Israel, Nigeria, and Egypt, just to name four of many), and may still be training pilots from some of those countries. I know this to be fact, because I was involved in there training.
They broke the treaties and agreements by there actions toward us. By the way, Democrat Jimmy Carter was President of the United States)

Answer 3

It hasn't the present radical Islam mind set came about in the 1930's, it took a break during and for a while after WWII than it started again after Israel was recognized by the UN in 1948 and has been building steam slowly but surely ever since, and we were blissfully unaware of it for the most part until 9-11. The funny thing is very many people are still unaware of it.

Answer 4

I feel very sorry for you if that's what you believe.

Radical Islam has been around for a very long time. You forget that 200 years ago, those in the Middle East (or any other part of the world) had no way of getting here. Air travel, Cars and fast moving water vessels have all been invented in the last 200 years. So has television, radio, the internet and most of the technology we enjoy today. Why is this siginificant? Because technology has made the distance between destinations disappear. I can type a few letters in my browser and instantly be in Tanzania. From there I can go to the Greek Island of Crete and then off to Italy. Our influence is far reaching, our appeal is vast. Radicals hate that we are a MODEL for freedom. We are a BEACON for what freedom can be. Since the industrial revelution people have been able to get here quicker, enjoy or freedoms longer and take these beliefs back to their countries. Democracy has spread across the world because of this and the Radicals hate that. We've been openly attacked since the early 70s, and before that Radical Islam was still a problem in the world. It's just that they didn't have access and methods of getting to us. They do now.

I could go on all day about this, but I think you get the point. Well, I hope anyway.

Answer 5

Because for the first 200 years that freedom was no threat to their ideology. Now it is.

Answer 6

They hated us 200 years ago. The whole fight over Tripoli was about our desire to trade freely without fear of attacks from Muslim pirates and their belief that we were infidels and they could treat us any way they wanted. They said as much to Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson when those two men confronted them about their actions.

Answer 7

It did not take them over 200 years, they have been hating anything but Islam since Ismael started a family....

They just did not have the technology to do anything about it. As technology grows, so does our ability to destroy ourselves...

Answer 8

no

radical islam was taking sailors off of us navy ships in the late 1700s

thomas jefferson responded by sending the United States Marine Corps into Tripoli, hence their song - shores of tripoli

we've been at war with extreme islam since day 1, day 1,


this question is neglecting those sailors and marines who fought the first battles in the war on terrorism

my answer recognizes their sacrafice

Answer 9

Black people haven't always been free in america, women have only been voting since 1920. People had to struggle for their freedom

Answer 10

Because we are only a little over 200 years old. You may not have noticed, but 200 years ago, transportation was a little slow and cumbersome. To the folks who think it was just because of President Bush, Where was bush the last 40 years that we've been attacked by Muslims all around the world and on American soil?