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Originally Posted by DoOrDoNot
I'm sorry, you think we have created all the jihadis and militants? There is a large section of Islam that simply believes in violence, otherwise how can you explain the terrorism and muslim violence in places like Pakistan, the Phillipines, Africa and Indonesia? Do you think the West is responsible for it all? I mean I wouldn't question the claim that our existence means war with sections of Islam, but it's not just because we were involved in Iraq.
No. I said recent foreign policy such as the war in Iraq created many jihadis and Islamist militants and have made them more popular in the eyes of many Muslims around the world. Bin Laden knew all this and that is why he did all he could to get the US involved in a ground war. He needed this for the ideology to thrive.
Of course the world is complex though. In somewhere like Pakistan we had Islamists from the Mujahideen in Afghanistan (who were sponsored by US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and others) return home to places like Pakistan and other countries, after fighting the Soviets. They then went about spreading their ideology. This is also combined with bad economic situations in many Muslim countries along with inequality and injustice. Many recruited for a different ideology have been young and angry. They look to what they see around the world as injustices in places like Kashmir or Palestine.
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Originally Posted by DoOrDoNot
Is this a serious question? The muslim world is diverse and will never be 'united.' Shias hate sunnis almost as much as they hate America.
My mistake. I was meant to say the Arab world, not the Muslim world.
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Originally Posted by DoOrDoNot
Geopolitics. Russia backs Syria and Iran and wants to secure their southern border and wants allies in the middle east, because the middle east is on an ocean of oil. The US backs Israel and Saudi Arabia (lol) because they inherited the British empire and the middle east is on an ocean of oil.
Iran hates America almost as much as Israel.
Yes, I agree completely, it is must be about geopolitics and oil. However, given that Saudi funds so much extremism and has a vile regime itself, and given that Iran hates Saudi so much, I am sure if the West placed sanctions on Saudi, Iran would come to the table. Iran must hate us because of our relationship in the region. Surely the way forward for peace is with a closer relationship with Iran. I actually believe Iran and Israel could have peace provided we have global sanctions on the Saudis.