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And wouldn't you know it, we're at war with them. Do you know what happens when you're at war with someone? Generally speaking, they try to kill you, and you try to kill them. al Queda is outnumbered, outgunned, and running from any kind of major military engagement, so they're using deplorable tactics in an attempt to make the conflict end in their favor. That line of reasoning is hardly unique to them, either in history OR in the modern day and age (child soldiers in Africa, anyone?). When you go to war with a numerically inferior force that still refuses to surrender, chances are they're going to do something desperate and despicable, and we've got zero right to act surprised by it. On the other hand, the tactics used by Christian extremists in the US are by civilians, against civilians, in the name of a conflict that should have only been political and verbal, not physical. There's no comparison.
AQ declared war on the US (and the west and muslim governments), not vice versa. We then responded to their attacks. They were dispicable from day one, striking at civilian targets almost exclusively, as other jihadists had been doing for years. Even if you choose to characterize it asymetrical guerilla warfare, the correct targets would be military.
And Bin Laden's concerns in his declaration of War? The loss of Spain to christian forces in the 15th century, the defense of saudia arabia by US forces and the belief that a magical caliphate state would somehow put Islamic fortunes back on the winning side of history. That is not a reasonable view. It's a crazy person drawing with hiw own poop.
Last edited by simon_says on 21 Mar 2012, 1:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.