To What Extent is the US Responsible for September 11th
To What Extent is the US Responsible for September 11th
In the wake of what is undisputedly one of the most destructive acts of terrorism ever seen by the world, America and her allies have been quick to condemn the perpetrators as unjustified, unprovoked extremists. The media has painted a picture of an evil regime intent on the shedding of innocent blood; motivated only by rage, hatred, jealously and sheer lunacy in the belief that this martyrdom will take them to paradise. Of course few in the west will doubt that the financial workers and tourists were blameless, and undeserving of the cruel fate which we have all seen emblazoned in our minds eye and replaying endlessly on our television screens as terrified men and women fall to their deaths, and the buildings that were the pride of New York fall to their destruction. Forming a sepulcher to the fallen victims and Americas national pride of the invincible.
With destruction on this scale, those of the world who observe such a tragedy might be more comfortable with the mass-murders, if the perpetuators are thought of simply as evil men. James Rubin once a senior official in the US government recently said of the terrorists held responsible for this, the Taleban that they "have no agenda". This is an extremely convenient viewpoint to be held by the US government, and one to be boosted as much as possible by the media, as it effectively eradicates any possible apportioning of guilt. How can anyone be to blame for inflaming a regime which "has no agenda, [when] all they want is to destroy the West." If they are simply motivated by fanaticism, fed by irrational hatred then surely America cannot be accused of having 'brought this one themselves'. However, the question which should be asked in furtherance to this conclusion, is what has given rise to anti-American feeling so strong that they have brought a regime to commit mass-murder. For many people vague statements regarding Jihad, religious fervor, Gulf war and misconceptions about American evil satisfy, but if one looks closer into individual incidents a pattern can be seen emerging.
Almost since the bombing itself, and certainly since Osama Bin Laden came to prominence as the US's prime suspect, Islam and the fanatical belief in such has been cited as a primary cause, even as a motive for...