Nationalism, Not Islam, Motivates Most Suicide Terrorists
"Prior to America's invasion in March 2003, Iraq had never experienced a suicide bombing in its history.''
by Gary Olson
Here is today's discussion question: Suicide terrorism is primarily caused by Islamic fundamentalism. True or false? Although it seems counter-intuitive, especially given everything we read and hear in the mainstream media, the correct answer is ''false.''
[WS:] Thanks for that reference, Charles. I ordered the book. While the synopsis of the argument is certainly intriguing, it also contains a bit too much of the "blowback theory" to my taste. I am not denying connections between US foreign policy and terrorism, but viewing the former as the cause of the latter is too US-centric.
My main objection to this point of view is that politics is primarily local, and other countries often serve as punching boys or proxies in the local struggles. Superpowers certainly act that way, but they have difficulties to accept that their "glorious" countries may also be serving as mere punching boys for two bit pricks in pissant nations (to borrow from two famous US presidents) in their own games.
My other objection is that US foreign policy is far from being coherent and omnipotent. Most likely, it resembles a Titanic set on a collision and nobody on the board being able to change due to their incompetence, vested interest in the status quo, and stalemate between vying factions.
I think that US-ers would like to think of themselves as a super-power - either for good or for evil, depending on political orientation - but a more accurate view is that is a bull in a China shop - it is inept, it does not quite know what is doing and each time it is trying to do something it causes some unintended damage and entanglement.
Wojtek