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They hate us. Some a little, some a lot, some rabidly. One thing that is the same if you try and pin them down on why it always comes down to one thing its that they are not successful and we are.

I agree with your synopsis although I probably would have used different phrasing. Humankind has always been competitive and mankind even more so. The fact that we are first in the pecking order is a serious affront to many in the world and the US. In a society (Mideast)that supposes that their culture and intellect are superior to all others it must have been a shock to wake up fifty years ago and find yourself a hundred years behind. You are right to fear their zeal and hate.

You are right to fear their zeal and hate.

A slight correction. I do not fear their hate. I recognize it, prefer it didn't exist, and am resigned that it is a problem (like all too many others) that we have defferred dealing with to some future date.

It may be that Bush's grand plan to lead them to modernizationa nd democracy will work. I don't think so. Quite simply you can't influence irrational emotion with sreason no matter how sweetly packaged. The vast majority of the mid-east population has decided to rage against America rather than face their own internal problems. Its an easy alternative to facing their reality.