What Do "They" Really Hate Us For?

[arwalden]

Is it really our "freedoms" that they hate us for? Or could it be our policies? Or something else? -- The Bush* mantra of how they hate us for our freedoms lacks credibility in my opinion.

-- Allen

[sniffa]

1. cabLe tv

oh, and carrot cake.

[JHB]

2. Using "Other" for "more than one"

I'd say "policies and secularism", and that can cover several "they"s.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Our Cheesecake.

Cheesecake is surprisingly starchy and bitter in terrorist circles.

[Tina H]

4. I think one reason for hate (among many)

is our sexual conduct and the laws that also us a relatively free hand (so to speak) in our sexual conduct.

Would this be "freedoms" or "secularism" or "policies?"

[bhunt70]

5. Arrogance

[BeyondGeography]

6. The fact that we bankroll Israel doesn't help

Their repressive military is a financial creation of the United States.

That goes under "policy."

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. are we talking about the terrorists or the republicans?

Either way, I think it's a mixture of our policies and our religious secularism.

[drdigi420]

12. like they are 2 diff things

the current batch of republicans ARE terrorists

but 'they' hate us because we support isreali terrorists and have bases on their supposedly 'holy' land

personally, i think it's the clash of 2 radical religions, and the rest of us are caught in the crossfire

[wadestock]

8. Look at the corporate world....

And you see the model of the neocons.

Any A-hole manager that wants to keep things in order and maintain power hates free thinkers. There is nothing that crawls in their skin more than someone who can think independently.

They are EXTREMELY threatened by this type....and the apparent chaos that surrounds the party in general.

You see we free thinkers don't necessarily have to have the camaraderie of A-holes to keep us going...we can be content with thinking things out on our own, thinking "out of the box" and be content with the results which emerge from true "free enterprise".

For the new right wing neocons of the world, profit making, power, and order is the formula for continued growth.

Pick up any recent book on organizational theory and the like and you'll find that the mantra is to make profits and wealth for the owner and to be organizationally in tune to the maximum extent with this overall plan...in terms of how the organization functions and grows....it is really quite scary when you see into the minds of these people.

The irony of all of this is....with their way...true innovativeness is falling by the wayside....and with it the most powerful true force on the face of the earth....the American middle class.

[trof]

9. It started here:

Late 1800s -- British control Middle East in order to have a land route to India

1904 -- British Navy shifted from coal to oil

1916 - British/French in Sykes-Picot agreement arbitrarily draw national borders in Middle East; southern Mesopotamia including Baghdad was to be administered by Great Britain. Arabs were needless to say upset by this secret agreement when it was published by the Russian government in 1917.

1917 - British forces invaded Mesopotamia and occupied Baghdad; Iraq became British Mandate

1918-Great Britain uses systematic aerial bombardment for first time in history to put down rebellions in Iraq.

1921 - British Colonial Office draws line across Southern Iraq creating Kuwait to prevent Iraq access to Persian Gulf.

May 1990 - At Arab summit Saddam accuses Gulf states of waging economic war against Iraq. The Iraq economy has been devastated by the war. Iraq had borrowed billions to wage war against Iran. Price of oil was down because Gulf states were dumping oil on world market. Kuwait was slant drilling with American equipment into Iraqi oilfields. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia at behest of U.S. demanded immediate repayment of loans to Iraq.

Transcript of Meeting Between Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie. - July 25, 1990 (Eight days before the August 2, 1990 Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait): http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/ARTICLE5/april.html

Saddam Hussein - As you know, for years now I have made every effort to reach a settlement on our dispute with Kuwait. There is to be a meeting in two days; I am prepared to give negotiations only this one more brief chance. (pause) When we (the Iraqis) meet (with the Kuwaitis) and we see there is hope, then nothing will happen. But if we are unable to find a solution, then it will be natural that Iraq will not accept death.

U.S. Ambassador Glaspie - What solutions would be acceptable?

Saddam Hussein - If we could keep the whole of the Shatt al Arab - our strategic goal in our war with Iran - we will make concessions (to the Kuwaitis). But, if we are forced to choose between keeping half of the Shatt and the whole of Iraq (i.e., in Saddam s view, including Kuwait ) then we will give up all of the Shatt to defend our claims on Kuwait to keep the whole of Iraq in the shape we wish it to be. (pause) What is the United States' opinion on this?

U.S. Ambassador Glaspie - We have no opinion on your Arab - Arab conflicts, such as your dispute with Kuwait. Secretary (of State James) Baker has directed me to emphasize the instruction, first given to Iraq in the 1960's, that the Kuwait issue is not associated with America. (Saddam smiles)

On August 2, 1990, Saddam's massed troops invade and occupy Kuwait.

9/11/2001 - Al Queda terrorists, mostly Saudi Arabian nationals hijack aircraft and fly them into the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon.

Ever Since - No link has been established between this group and Iraq/Hussein.

March 20, 2003 - American missiles hit targets in Baghdad, marking the start of a US-led campaign to topple Saddam Hussein. In the following days US and British ground troops enter Iraq from the south.

[Skittles]

10. arrogance and greed

nt

[iconoclastic cat]

11. Just for kicks!

[Beacho]

13. first question

exactly who is 'they'?

[arwalden]

15. I Phrased It They Way Bush* Does...

... but I put quotes around the word 'they' because 'they' could be anyone. It's very ambiguous.

-- Allen

[MikeG]

14. I'm already on record as saying it's our pierogies.

But that's a Pittsburgh viewpoint.

Their airplanes would bounce off our buildings.

[riverwalker]

16. Sept 30, 2000

When Sharon triggered riots on Sept 28, and on Sept 30 12 year old Mohammed al Durra was killed in his fathers arms. The world watched in horror and allowed the Intifada 2 to begin and hundreds more children slaughtered. We have no idea what a symbol this moment was to the world.

[arwalden]

17. I Remember That Well... It Was A Horrible Sight