[quote=“spook”]From thesame website:
"We also said that the real cause of terrorism is an ideology called Political Islam.
We now need to focus on actions to defeat terrorism. With this in mind the Free Muslims believes that nothing can do more to win the war on terror than solving the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. No other issue has been more frequently used to justify global terrorism than the alleged support for the Palestinian cause.
The issue of Palestine and the suffering of the Palestinians is the single most important issue that unites the entire Muslim and Arab world. No issue evokes the passion of Muslims and Arabs as much as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is so important to Arabs and Muslims that every terrorist group from Morocco to Indonesia that seeks legitimacy and a following, places the liberation of Palestine at the forefront of their agenda. For example, Saddam Hussein responded to the worlds request that he leave Kuwait by insisting that Israel first evacuate the West Bank and Gaza. Osama Bin Laden also invoked the Palestinian issue to justify 9-11."[/quote]
spook,
You’re right.
That’s why Bush is and was right to go into Iraq and try to get some democratic reform. Bush realized that the Israeli-Palestinian issue was one that united the peoples of the region in hate against the Jews in Israel. Bush understands that there is no chance for peace between Israel and the palestinians unless there exists a free Palestinian state. Bush also understands that there can never be any chance for a free and democratic Palestinian state until the nations of the region stop supporting and underwriting terrorism against Israel. Saddam’s Iraq was a supporter of such terrorism. Syria is a supporter of such terrorism.
The Iraq war and ouster of Saddam and introduction of a nascent democratic system in Iraq has resulted in a cessation of Iraqi support for Palestinian terrorism and in pressure on Syria to leave Lebenon, the geography from where it facilitates terrorism against Israel.
Things are decidely different now. Everyone is taking notice now.
Let’s remember that Bush was on this a long time ago:
[quote=“President Bush, 30 March 2002 Speech and follow-up answers”]We are at this point because there has not been enough done to fight off terror. All the leaders in the world must stand up against terror, must do everything in their power to cut off the funding to terrorist organizations, to prevent terrorist organizations from finding safe haven.
And that especially applies to Chairman Arafat. I believe he can do a lot more to prevent attacks, such as the one that just occurred in Tel Aviv.
Last night the administration supported a U.N. Security Council resolution that urges there to be a cease-fire, start a process that will end this cycle of violence… And I urge all parties to recognize that there are terrorists in this world who can’t stand the thought of peace and all of us – all of us – must work together to condemn, find and stop terrorist activities.
I’ll be glad to answer a few questions.
Q Mr. President, with this latest terrorist attack on a Tel Aviv cafe tonight, with many apparent casualties, does Chairman Arafat in your opinion really have any control over these suicide bombers?
PRESIDENT Bush: I think Chairman Arafat can do a lot more. I truly believe that. I believe he needs to stand up and condemn, in Arabic, these attacks.
And they have got to do a much better job of preventing people from coming into Israel to blow up innocent people. The leaders in the region must do the same thing. Again, I was pleased that Crown Prince Abdullah spoke out so forcefully for what he called normalization. We support that.
But there is no normalcy when, day after day, killers destroy innocent lives. All the leaders must join with governments such as ours to strongly condemn and stop terrorist activities.
I spoke Jose Maria Aznar, he’s the head of the EU now, and he told me, he said, you know, the world must fight off these terrorists, and the region can do more, in my judgment. The Iranians must step up and stop sponsoring terrorism. The Syrians must participate. If people want peace in the region, there has got to be a united effort against terror, and I do believe Mr. Arafat can do more.
… And every phone call I make, I remind people that if you’re interested in peace – and the leaders I’ve talked to are interested in peace – we have all got to come together to stop terror. Our role is very visible and our role is very active. And I firmly believe that we can achieve a peace in the region, but not until – not until – there is a concerted, united effort to rout terror out.
And, therefore, the best way to make sure that we can get some meaningful dialogue going is to secure the – is to help secure the region, in particular, Israel’s homeland, by a united front against terror. It’s essential that we lead – meaning those who long for a peace – and, again, I repeat to you every leader I’ve talked to said, we need peace.
Q You mentioned a moment ago that Iran and Syria need to do more.
PRESIDENT Bush: Yes, I believe they do.
Q Can you identify other countries in the region who need to do more than they’re doing now?
PRESIDENT Bush: All the countries in the region must condemn terror, speak clearly about terror. I appreciate the fact that the Saudis have spoken about a vision for peace.
Q On Iran and Syria, do you have any evidence that those countries are directly involved in the latest series of bombings?
PRESIDENT Bush: No, I do not have evidence. But I saw, for example, the Syrians once again walk out of the U.N., when there was a reasonable resolution put forward. That should say something.
… Nevertheless, I do know their influence in the region. And if they are interested in a peaceful resolution, they too need to be active about cutting off funds. And, as you may recall, there was a ship, that was intercepted by the Israelis, that came from Iran full of weapons.
[b]I fully understand the frustrations of the Israeli people. I sympathize. And I sympathize with the frustrations of the Palestinian people, those who long for normalcy, those who want to send their kids to school and go to work. There’s got to be a much more concerted effort by Chairman Arafat and others to stop terror.
Terror is – so long as there’s this reign of terror, there will be no peace. So, therefore, stopping terror makes conditions ripe for peace.[/b][/quote]