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Watching the Sky News press coverage of the foiled airline plot this morning, I saw some UK politician say that we shouldn't fear Islamic fundamentalism, we should fear all fundamentalism.

I was unaware of any Christian, Hindu, Buddist, or Vodoo fundamentalists launching any terrorist attack whatsoever in recent memory. Why is everyone afraid to call terrorists what they are 99.9% of the time... Islamic fundamentalists?

There are people who would rather believe that Bush was behind 9/11 and all terrorist attacks in the world, rather than admit that Islamic fundamentalism is the problem.

When that nuke finally goes off in a western city, long after Bush is gone... I wonder who we will blame then?

EDIT: I know, by that time it will be accepted wisdom that the US is doing it to launch another war. I just got done watching "V for Vendetta". I liked the movie. A qoute in the movie is as follows: "Artists use lies to tell the truth." Sometimes lies are just lies.

At the end of the day, religion is not a part of it, I'm yet to see a religious text that condones racism or genocide of one form or another. It doesn't matter what religion these people are, they're just using it as an excuse to justify their actions.

The problem with terrorism, is that you'll never know if its the act of a few motivated people, or if its a state sponsored attempt designed to look like just a few individuals not representative of the country.

Theres enough dislike between countries, that I wouldn't be totally surprised if a motivated American blew himself up in china or korea, (taking civilians with him) could be classed as an act of war. (Note I only said American because you have more of a history with those 2 countries (obviously Vietnam, and the tensions between the PRC and ROC governments) Us Brits have pissed off a fair few countries too.

they are right though, we should be concerned with any group of people (no matter what their religion or belief) that can motivate their members to commit terrorist acts. singling out Islamic fundamentalists is like target fixation on a bike, you look at a danger long enough, you will run over it, but it doesn't mean you won't get sideswiped by a truck first.

While I agree that what religion extremists follow and what the religion actually teaches doesn't a terrorist make. It does matter that most terrorists are Muslim, because politics are inherently intertwined with that religion. Recruiting and propagandization occur in mosques. Schools are also founded that teach hatred and violence with the Koran as a tool.

To say that it doesn't matter that terrorists are Muslim, that we should be watching all extremists leads to ridiculous policies. Should we be paying attention to catholic churches to see if they are preaching hatred and violence?? Can you think of any major religion, other than Islam, in which that occurs?? The facts are the facts people, Islam may not be the cause of terrorism, but it is the main vehicle for terrorist recruiting and idealogy in the entire world. Terrorists may be abusing Islam, but to say religion doesn't matter is sticking your head in the ground. This is a religious war to the terrorists: Why in the world would we try and spin this into a secular threat??

We should not be monitoring all churches, we should be monitoring mosques. We shouldn't be searching little old ladies at airports, we should be paying close attention to young men of Middle Eastern dissent. To make this issue into a politically correct football is just like playing Russian Roulette.

To be honest, Im sure law enforcement agencies all around the world are pragmatic about this. You dont look in catholic churches for terrorists, you look in mosques.

"Theres enough dislike between countries, that I wouldn't be totally surprised if a motivated American blew himself up in china or korea, (taking civilians with him) could be classed as an act of war. (Note I only said American because you have more of a history with those 2 countries (obviously Vietnam, and the tensions between the PRC and ROC governments) Us Brits have pissed off a fair few countries too."

Yes, but you would be suprised if 10,000 Americans went to China to blow themselves up. You would be even more surpised if you found that 80% of Americans would agree the bombers were justified.

We arent talking about the extremism of one or two or a hundred. We are talking about hijacking an entire religion. We are talking about thousands, tens of thousands, or more willing to blow themselves up in the name of God, blowing up non-believers.

Religion isn't a side issue, religion is at the forefront. Just ask the terrorists themselves.

Actually the suicide bombers are pretty much against us bringing in Western influences and as well as distorted religious beliefs.

I have muslim friends who think those suicide bombers are ruining what Mohammad stood for. Religion is the reason many wars start, the History CHannel had a thing on this and basically almost every religion tried to have a conquest to rule society.

No food, liquids or cell phones (at least in carry ons) are allowed... makes me think that they're over reacting just a bit, I mean we supposedly have the tech to sniff out combustible liquids. Or the money was spent on bureaucratic fat.

JCViper528 wrote: No food, liquids or cell phones (at least in carry ons) are allowed... makes me think that they're over reacting just a bit, I mean we supposedly have the tech to sniff out combustible liquids. Or the money was spent on bureaucratic fat.

Typical TSA overreaction. After the Sept. 11th knee-jerk security measures went into effect (mostly to enhance the appearance of security), I predicted that eventually all people would have to fly naked in order to be "safe". Were getting close!

This latest round of security "improvements" should be one of the last nails in the coffins of the major airlines. Even the sheep that pass for the average Americans these days are not going to put up with long flights without laptops and MP3 players. They just won't fly unless they have to.

If terrorists had a sense of humor, they'd send a bunch of guys on planes with explosives cleverly hidden in body cavities. You know that the TSA reaction would be a mandatory body cavity search before boarding an airplane. They could sit in their caves and laugh their bottoms off.

swatter555 wrote: I was unaware of any Christian, Hindu, Buddist, or Vodoo fundamentalists launching any terrorist attack whatsoever in recent memory. Why is everyone afraid to call terrorists what they are 99.9% of the time... Islamic fundamentalists?

Because America isnt the world and the World has "fundies" of every stripe fighting somewhere. Its just most of them arent going after the states.

What is recent memory to you? 5 minutes or ten? You forget we had Christian terrorists still 'fighting' here less than a decade ago.

Kal wrote:

swatter555 wrote: I was unaware of any Christian, Hindu, Buddist, or Vodoo fundamentalists launching any terrorist attack whatsoever in recent memory. Why is everyone afraid to call terrorists what they are 99.9% of the time... Islamic fundamentalists?

Because America isnt the world and the World has "fundies" of every stripe fighting somewhere. Its just most of them arent going after the states.

What is recent memory to you? 5 minutes or ten? You forget we had Christian terrorists still 'fighting' here less than a decade ago.

Kal is absolutely right. The UK's history is full of incidents of Protestants and Catholics shooting and blowing each other up.

The IRA could also be classified as 'terrorists', as they have (had?) a nasty reputation for setting off bombs in quiet London neighbourhoods throughout the 70's and 80's, killing hundreds of innocent people.

For the IRA, they were fighting to free their homeland (Northern Ireland) from the yoke of British rule.

The Muslim terrorists are fighting to free their homelands of Western influence, of which the United States is the most visible target, and also the most intrusive of Western countries. I think you would be hard pressed to find a country on this planet that the US hasn't gotten their fingers into in an effort to feed their own industrial machine and desire for 'more'.

It isn't the fault of the terrorists that fly planes into buildings and blow up civilians without mercy any chance they get, its the fault of the big bad US of A. They are just trying to protect their culture from having a McDonalds and KFC on every corner. The US sends soldiers to their homeland, oppresses them, and has colonial-like ambitions about controlling their countries natural resources.

Typical anti-American drivel.

Never mind the US's extensive record for defending friends and allies and helping poorer countries with very generous aid. The world has a very short memory. The institutions the world values so dearly exist because of the US, not in spite of it. Some of the most vocal anti-American sentiments come from Europe, a continent that owes it very freedom to speak out and hate us to our ability to prevent communist domination post-WWII.

A few points:

1) If you think these terrorists are fighting to protect their culture, you sorely misunderstand not only their motives, but the wants of people all over the Middle East. A vast majority of people in the Middle East DONT want to live in the 8th century, which is exactly the world these Islamic fascists wish to impose. They are not fighting to preserve their culture, they are fighting to change their culture.

2) American culture is based on capitalism. Without demand, American culture would have no where to go. You can't blame the US for the people in the Middle East wanting a more western progressive life. It is their choice, they are not forced to adopt western culture. I would propose it is the fundamentalists that fight to change, NOT preserve.

If the people in the ME don't want McDonalds, it would go out of business. If there wasnt demand, there would be no money to be made and therefore no McDonalds.

3) Finally, I don't get the refusal to admit we are fighting Islamic fundamentalists. Im not saying that all terrorists are muslim. I am saying that the western world is fighting Islamic terrorism. This is a FACT, no more clear and provable a fact could exist. WE ARE FIGHTING EXCLUSIVELY AGAINST ISLAMIC TERRORISTS.

Why is this so hard to say????????????