| I should note that I never said that terrorism was 'divorced' from ideological causes. Terrorism is a tactic, one that can be used by any group for any purpose. If the Palestinians use terrorism in order to affect political change, it does not diminish in any way the fact that their plight is very real. Of course, if the Americans use terrorism in order to affect political change, it does not change the fact that we are the aggressors.
But Al Qaeda, for its rhetoric, still has those very political issues on its demands, and put together (we want the US out of the middle east) speaks a great deal on the pan-Arab nations' self-determination on the whole. Palestine is obvious, but it's not like Iran or Saudi Arabia or Pakistan are enthralled with our occupation of Iraq at the moment.
. . . whenever any government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundations on such principles and organizing its powers in such forms as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. |