why do terrorists hate Americans?

[phoenix_fire]

You can probably take your pick. The uninformed who get all of their information from some crazed clergyman probably think that the US is some satanic cult that sneaks around their homes at night and drinks the blood of their young. For the more informed, I would say "all of the above", and then some.

[bugsbunny04]

I beleive "all of the above". They hate us becausee we arent like them. They hate us because we dont force people to be like them. They hate us because we dont control our bitches and we run on a different prayer schedule. They hate us because some of us dont even have prayers to put on a schedule.

But the one that wasnt on there that I think should have been is "Because we have nicer weather than they do." If I lived in a climate that in the summer got into the 40s at night and into the 150s during the day, Id probably be pissed too.

[Zhavric]

"They believe we lack morality."

This is a reason to dislike someone. It's not a reason to strap a bomb to one's torso and blow themselves up.

"Because we appear to be a superpower bully."

We don't "appear" to be a superpower bully. We are the superpower bully.

"Because we are Christians and support a Jewish nation."

Getting warmer.

"Because they do not like the concepts of freedom."

Pardon my saying so, but this is just retarded. There isn't anyone in the world who doesn't like freedom. They're just a little tired of us telling them they're "free" from the wrong side of a gun barrell.



Now that we've expanded / dispelled those, let's start to understand why Muslim terrorists hate America.

First, let's look back at what America has done to them. We backed the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Iran which paved the way later for the Iyotolla(sp?) and the anti-American sentiment there.

We were allied with Saddam Hussein in the 1980's and betrayed him with the Iran Contra affair. Yes, that's right. Saddam was our ally. Don't believe me? Here:



What did we do there? We shot ourselves in the foot. Why? Because, yes Saddam was a bastard, but he was a secular arab bastard. NOT a fundamentalist muslim bastard. Muslim bastards and arab bastards have been fighting each other for a LONG time. If we had played things a little differently (you know... NOT betrayed Saddam), Saddam would have led his own personal crusade against Osama Bin Laden. The two HATE each other with a passion. Right wing apologists sound like real assholes when they try to justify this: "He was bad so it's okay to do bad things to him". Please.

If we look through American history (for the last century or so), we see a disturbing number of examples where we saw threats where there were none, went after resources that didn't belong to us, and ended up with horrific situations a couple decades down the road.

So, moving back to the terrorists in Iraq who hate us, the seeds of their hatred were sewn long ago. More recently, they dislike us because we came into their country, smashed their dictator, but had no plan on how to stop the three major ethnic groups (shiites, kurds, sunnis) from killing each other. There are 5000 distinct ethnic groups on the planet and less than 180 countries to house them.

So, imagine this:

You have an armed force occupying your country.

You have a handful of militants who hate the occupying army and fight it the only way they can: suicide bombings and roadside bombs.

These attacks cause a lot of collateral damage. Each side (terrorist and American) blames the other side for the collateral deaths.

You're an Iraqi. Family & clan is EVERYTHING to you. If someone kills a family member, you're memetically bound to avenger their death.

There's a terrorist network spreading propaganda about how it's the American's fault so you join the terrorists.

The Americans kill you.

Your family gets upset at the Americans. More of them become terrorists.


The end result is that you're looking at a perpetual cycle of violence and retribution. Iraqis & terrorists keep fighting because Americans are there and Americans are there because Iraqis and terrorists keep fighting.

So, that's why they hate us. We've decided we have a god-given right to resources in the region and we really don't care what the locals think or how they may react. The idea of winnning hearts and minds in the manner we've been going about it is utterly laughable.


Souces:

Overthrow : America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

National Security Archive.

Free press. (Biased, but has a few things the mainstream press hasn't reported).

A letter to president Clinton from The Project for the New American Century (PNAC) which proves that high level Bush administration officials had a hard-on for Iraq BEFORE 9/11. The letter never mentions al-quida, but it does mention oil.

[Tony Clifton]

Quote by: G. Adams Quote by: Tony Clifton ...again - bin Laden didn't mind taking our money when they were fighting the Russians... Who says he stopped taking it? Terrorists don't hate America, some love it, like the IRA as you funded them. Don't make sloppy errors like this. It's not simply a matter of semantics, it allows power mongers to blur the edges of different causes into one umbrella, so that in the future when you see someone in a balaclava on TV you don't see a pissed off guy with a cause, you just see a terrorist who hates you. As Al-CIAda is not a single super consciousness, or have a proper manifesto, the grievances they bare against will be as many as their members. Some might have a larger political world view with an elaborate theory to back it up, others just because all of his daughters were blown to smithereens by one of your DU missiles.

Let's be serious now. By the choices given in this poll as well as other suggested choices do you really believe the question was about ALL terror groups or simply about mid-east islamic terrorists? While you claim that certain terrorists like us (I guess the IRA being your example) bin Laden in one of his many audio tapes claimed that even while we were helping him & his cronies defeat the Russians in the 80s he was already planning to attack us. Simply because we fund someone to defeat who we may consider a bigger threat or enemy does not make for a likable friend. That would be a sloppy error.

[Tony Clifton]

Saddam not an islamic fundy leader. Now that's funny; I don't care who you are.
--- public islamic prayer scheduled & broadcast several times a day on state owned airwaves.
--- Saddam was one of the modern arab/muslim leaders speaking out against Israel - many scholars believe his public speaches led to Sadat's assassination for his treaty/cooperation with Israel.
--- Saddam (sunni) - bin Laden (sunni) - HHHhhhMMMmmm...

[underbear1]

This really pisses them off

[another day]

"Pardon my saying so, but this is just retarded. There isn't anyone in the world who doesn't like freedom. They're just a little tired of us telling them they're "free" from the wrong side of a gun barrell. "

You'd think that Zhav, but you are wrong! Plenty of these terrorists absolutly despise the concept of freedom. They want everyone to be the same religion, be stoned to death for immorality, have to abide by the sharia laws etc. Haven't you seen that picture of the idiot muslim terrorist with a sign that says "Freedom go to hell"?

Sure they probably want freedom for themselves...but their concept of freedom is not anything close to real freedom. They treat their women like dogs for god's sake.

[bugsbunny04]

Quote by: another day [b] Sure they probably want freedom for themselves...but their concept of freedom is not anything close to real freedom. They treat their women like dogs for god's sake.

Bullshit. I treat my dogs better than that.

[Kat]

I didn't vote in this poll because I'm not really sure who the terrorists are or what motivates their hate enough to rain the type of destruction they did upon us or even if hate was involved at all. Personally, I believe the people who did it don't care enough to be so passionate as to hate us.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: Athena Glad you clarified which terrorist. Yesterday I was at meeting where a FBI person explained the eco terrorism the local FBI has been dealing with. People setting fire to businesses that are not eco friendly. Personally, my take on terrorism, is it is the thing to do anywhere in the world, whenever the interest of a small group wants to change something that can not be changed through legitimate means. The pressures on everyone are high now. Again I suggest reading or listening to the audiotapes, "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of the World Order". Bin Laden is effective only because the time is right for terrorism. There is intense pressure on Muslim and Christian countries right now. It is more like the American Revolution with pressure to be a slave nation or anti slave nation. This conflict was resolved with war. There are several countries that are in conflict because of religious identities, and who will win? Christians, Muslims, Hindus? So someone like Bin Laden surfaces, and if not him, than it will be someone else. Bin's enemy was the communist USSR who opposed religion and the US supported him. For him and his followers, it is a religious war.

I would like to hear more about what the FBI guy said about "domestic terrorism". I am apposed to listing radical environmentalists as terrorists (unless they kill people). In a way I see environmentalists as being on the front line in the war on terrorism, fighting those who would terrorize nature. Those lumber guys use their "axes of evil" to chop down trees that should remain standing - in some cases. Perhaps you can make another post about domestic terrorism so we can debate that "section" of what the Homeland Security Department is "defending us from".

[bugsbunny04]

Quote by: Kat I didn't vote in this poll because I'm not really sure who the terrorists are or what motivates their hate enough to rain the type of destruction they did upon us or even if hate was involved at all. Personally, I believe the people who did it don't care enough to be so passionate as to hate us.

I think you missed the part where they are so passionate as to die for their cause.

And if you dont know who they are, or what motivates them, might I suggest, here is an interesting concept: Library. Go to the "library". They have these neat things, called "books". These books, they have these little morsels of information called "words" in them. Very informative. As a matter of fact, I have one right now Im going to go work on.

[Kat]

Quote by: bugsbunny04 I think you missed the part where they are so passionate as to die for their cause. And if you dont know who they are, or what motivates them, might I suggest, here is an interesting concept: Library. Go to the "library". They have these neat things, called "books". These books, they have these little morsels of information called "words" in them. Very informative. As a matter of fact, I have one right now Im going to go work on.

Now that's very condescending. Do I give you the impression of someone who is uneducated? You must assume my only resource is the internet. How very unperceptive of you. I hope the book you're working on is by Miss Manners.

[G. Adams]

Quote by: Tony Clifton Let's be serious now. By the choices given in this poll as well as other suggested choices do you really believe the question was about ALL terror groups or simply about mid-east islamic terrorists? While you claim that certain terrorists like us (I guess the IRA being your example) bin Laden in one of his many audio tapes claimed that even while we were helping him & his cronies defeat the Russians in the 80s he was already planning to attack us. Simply because we fund someone to defeat who we may consider a bigger threat or enemy does not make for a likable friend. That would be a sloppy error.

I know full well what he meant because of the context, however I object to the broad use of 'terrorist' because it helps state that we blur the lines of distinction. Like, the War on Terror. Bush might say for example "a coalition of countries are fighting this War on Terror". Because we have allowed a blurring of understanding amongst the population, they might actually think that the war on terror is being conducted against militant Islam, and a handful of assorted "baddies". What it actually means is that a range of countries have used the war on terror as cynically as Bush did 9/11, using it as an excuse to cull civil liberties, to execute protesters etc

Consider the use of the word liberal. Do you know what it means? Because I'm guessing somewhere between 90% and 95% of Americans don't, including those who call themselves liberal. It has become a dirty word, a dirty word for big government, anti-gun etc When it has nothing to do with those actions and policies. Liberalism is about liberty, property and minimal government. Late 19th century liberalism afforded some small expansion of government, mostly to provide education, but no more. The problem occurs when socialists and social democrats, unable to compete in a two party system, ingratiate themselves into the dominant liberal party and confuse things. Or, as in the US, the dominant parties don't actually have a proper ideology anyway, and simply move around to hit enough voters.

So you see, it is vastly important that we be very clear about who we mean.

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Quote by: Technosoul I wanted to make this poll to see if at this late date anyone knows why Bin Laden and his kind of people hate Americans. How do they "see us" that causes such resentment, to the point of making it a holy war.

Technosoul the terrorist you refer to do not just hate Americans they have a great deal of anitpathy for anyone who does not practice or agree with their own highly misguided views of morality and lifestyles.
Presumably it's the movies and your TV programmes or they've had a McDonalds with Coke, but hey I agree how can that cause a deeprooted need to destroy and make such long and rather mundane idealogical speeches corrupting their own creed and religion. But wo they happily randomly kill their own people or at least those who share their faith, because that particular view of the faith isn't theirs.
Lets face it they are just a bunch of sad sexual inadequate idiots who'd be far better off dead. terrorists that is

Technosoul your heading question is

why do terrorists hate Americans?

This particularly caught my attention because I do not think that all terrorists hate Americans, especially those funded by the US. So I cannot hold with the argument that to be a terrorist one must hate Americans or America

[bugsbunny04]

Quote by: Kat Now that's very condescending. Do I give you the impression of someone who is uneducated? You must assume my only resource is the internet. How very unperceptive of you. I hope the book you're working on is by Miss Manners.

You said you werent really sure in a way that seemed to indicate you needed more information. I merely pointed you in a direction. Yes, I did it with poor manners. I dont have any remorse for that, sorry.

[Jack]

I dont have any remorse for that, sorry.

Yet you do express remorse for not feeling remorse. How confusing. :)

[youbetyourwrasse]

Greetings.

Cephus, thanks for reminding us of the jackass we returned to the White House. You speak with an authority that smells of experience, though I'm not certain which one. Maybe that time when I was 12 and my 44 year old aunt/uncle lured me into the shed and tried to take their clothes off while I ran screaming/laughing/crying and shaking...

Kudos to G. Adams
"'he REALLY makes me hot he's SO smart..' -a fan

This Poll is just a way to show us how confused we are. I ask Krazyjuice to tell us more, because he may really be onto something. Perhaps New Foreign Policy.

If only we KNEW what was wrong maybe we REALLY could change something.
Something is WEIRD.

YBYW

[amana1man]

I say other but just want to add that United States is the most hated nation in the world today. So why are we in the USA hated so. We as people are friendly as a hole. It is our government that is hated by people around the world. Its compaines like GE, Whirlpool and others who move factories to 3 world countries and pay paltry that makes the United States hated.
Per your poll, 3rd down is #1reason 2nd down is #2reason with 1st being 3rd reason.
They have been fighting over religion in the middle east for 3000 years. Its interpretation of religion and who is correct. Some area's have changed several times as one religion overthrowed another. I this is still happing, one trying to be above overthrow another and force there interpretation of faith upon others.
I also guess after fighting for 3000 years one would have grown accustom, no perhaps welcome a good fight because its heredity.

[another day]

"I didn't vote in this poll because I'm not really sure who the terrorists are or what motivates their hate enough to rain the type of destruction they did upon us or even if hate was involved at all. Personally, I believe the people who did it don't care enough to be so passionate as to hate us."

Not passionate enough to hate us? Excuse me? Passion is the one thing they have way too much of. They call em zealots for a reason. You don't kill yourself for a cause you aren't passionate about.

I think your just trying to reject/deny anything that might be considered positive about the terrorists...not that passion is always a good thing and definitly not in this case, but in general it's seen as a positive characteristic. Just like after 9/11 when papers were calling the terrorists "cowards"...coward is the one word that really doesn't apply to them. There are many more appropriate insults.

[Cephus]

Quote by: another day Sure they probably want freedom for themselves...but their concept of freedom is not anything close to real freedom. They treat their women like dogs for god's sake.

They want the ability to define freedom their own way, just like Americans want to define freedom our way. Those two definitions do not coincide very much. More than anything though, I think they want freedom from US oppression and control, something that we're just not willing to give up.