Maybe the mistake was in telling people 9/11 had anything to do with Islam period.

[dkf]

It could have been framed as an attack by Saudi Nationals who wanted us out of Saudi Arabia but instead they told us that radical Islamists want to murder us. Then they told us that there are schools all over the world where they create warriors who want to Jihad against us. And then they finish with the idea that most American Muslims aren't like the ones who want to Jihad.

But we go to war with two Countries with Muslim residents, one who is actually known to be secular.

Isn't that just full of contradictions?

The fact is the Muslim religion HAS been portrayed very unfavorably by the American media. Do we ever see any stories of how Muslims take care of their poor or anything good coming out of the religion? Even when the Taliban provides a safe environment it's seen as a negative because that is just the hook in an otherwise objectionably oppressive regime.

George Bush used to talk about how Islam is a loving religion but what did he provide beyond that? Not much. It seems more like the pander to A community to me.

So what is this loving Muslim religion all about? Is this particular Cordoba Imam supposed to be different from the normal American Imam or an example of one? Do we mostly like Sufi Muslims because they preach cooperation with other communities but the rest are not as great?

America has no idea what Muslims are all about. We have been fed mostly negative things with just the assurance that American Muslims don't subscribe to these points of view. That doesn't do much for Muslim PR.

[liberal N proud]

1. The war mongers in the bu$h regime used the Islam connection

to drive fear in America. It was useful for Rumsfeld, Cheney and the other neocons who actually ran the bu$h regime.

What bu$h himself said had nothing to do with the actual agenda within that regime.

[Ikonoklast]

2. Islam is not monolithic.

That's the first mistaken assumption made.

[dkf]

4. So when American hear the word Muslim does that mean anything at all?

[Ikonoklast]

5. I can only speak for myself.

I can't answer as to how others perceive things.

[Subdivisions]

3. Mistake? There was no mistake. n/t

[Bitwit1234]

6. Bush didn't care he went after a neutral country that

had nothing to do with the attack on the Twin Towers, and then held hands and kissed one of the rulers of the country that the attackers came from.

[stray cat]

7. Bin Laden should have made up a different reason for the attacks?

maybe those who kill abortion doctors shouldn't be called conservatives against abortion but just personal attacks?

[Subdivisions]

8. So, you think bin laden was responsible for the 9/11 attacks? Based on

what evidence?

[uppityperson]

9. wow, I finally agree with some of what you write on this.

It was framed that way on purpose to allow the invasion/occupation of Iraq. Why wasn't it framed as Saudi's attacking USA? Because Saudi Arabia has too much oil and is too good a "friend" of the USA leadership.

Attacking/invading Iraq for 9/11 makes no logical sense at all and indeed simply continues to push forward, somehow, Islam is the enemy.

All sects of Islam are not the same, like all sects of Christianity are not the same. Some are more fundamentalist, controlling, "us vs them"ish, some more open, positive, peaceful, helping.