[goldstategop]

He gets it wrong about terrorism being caused by poverty. Bin Laden came from a wealthy background - from the privileged Saudi elite and every one of the 9/11 terrorists came from middle to upper middle class families. Its a truism there are no poor terrorists. Terrorism doesn't grow out of a desire to address grievances; rather it grows out of a desire by terrorists to acquire through force what society denies them. And as long as there are people who believe violence will get them what they want, terrorism and the ideologies that justify it, will remain with us.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Braak]

Yes and no, Yes, rich people are attracted to terrorism, mainly for the reasons you mention, but the footsoldiers tend to be poor, uneducated and easily led. The 19 hijackers of 9/11 were rich Saudis, but the bombers on the streets of Tel Aviv and Haifa are poor, and uneducated for the most part. Even when they have the benefit of education, they are led astray by mullahs who's only real education and form of literacy is learning the Koran by rote. It's a wierd melange that has a bloody, horrid end for all involved.

[weegee]

Bump.

5 of thw world's 10 wealthiest men lived in the Middle East. The jihadist war is not because of poverty.

Bin Laden is a billionaire.

Saddam funded international terrorism and was building a billion dollar mosque in the shape of his thumbprint so Allah could see him from above (and it was a French architect who was behind the project).