Correct me if I am wrong, but was the US an Islamic target BEFORE

[bribri16]

we stationed military bases in Saudi Arabia during and after Desert Storm?

[TexasProgresive]

1. It was the basing of infidel troops in the Muslim

Holy Land (Saudi Arabia) that caused bin Ladin to turn his eyes on the US.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. no (you are correct).

It was gulf-farce-I that motivated OBL to declare war on us.

[Deja Q]

4. I recall reading that Kuwait was slant-drilling into Iraq's territory...

If that is true then the USA took the wrong side in that war; assuming it was ever necessary to do in the first place.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MountainLaurel]

10. Iraq and Kuwait have been an issue since the 50s and 60s

When carving up the Middle East after World War II and trying to limit Soviet influence there, Britain and the U.S. allowed Kuwait to become a sovereign nation separate from Iraq, much to the consternation of the ruling group in Iraq. U.S. diplomats were kicked out, and events included some late-night escapes from the embassy roof via helicopter.

[bribri16]

3. So why don't we pack up and bring our children home?

The world is in flames because of a mistake macho move by Bush, the elder, compunded by his idiot son.

[napi21]

5. Yes, that was OBL's prime reason, but there was another one too.

He believes (and rightfully so) that the US is extremely one sided in the Arab/Israeli fight. I actually haven't heard that he insisted that we abandon Israel, but that we be more fair handed.

[H2O Man]

12. There are six reasons.

Usama bin Laden has addressed six reasons he and his followers are are war with the USA. You are coorect on two.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

7. Yes, it's true.

I would suggest that anyone who believes that Osama would stop attacking us if our troops vacated the middle east is being very naieve.

People need to stop looking at Osama's goals from an American-centric point of view. His overriding goal was not to commit acts of terrorism against America. His goal is the overthrow of various regimes in the middle east and their replacement with islamist regimes. And if you think that his goals end with doing this, you're not thinking. Any islamist state would be a meance to its neighbors. The doctrine of supporting muslims at all cost, anywhere in the world, against their secular godless governments is inherently a doctrine of world domination.

Fortunately for us, the islamists have no chance of achieving this, but I think it's silly to frame this conflict in terms of American troop deployments in the middle east. That is but one battle in what these nutters hope will be an all-out war. It's actually quite funny to think that Osama actually believes this is possible. On the other hand, Bush is in charge, so...

[H2O Man]

13. You are half right

and half wrong.

[pox americana]

8. There have been hijackings since at least the early 70s

mostly having to do with the Palestinian situation, which is probably a proxy for US influence in the Middle East generally, although it's usually presented the other way around.

[Roland99]

9. Beirut....1983

[leesa]

11. Well, we've been messing with their countries since the beginning of last

century, if not before, so if they were it has to do with colonialism effects and looting of resources anyway.