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question for Jeffrey; you too, man.
Topic Started: Jul 21 2005, 02:08 PM (626 Views)
Jeffrey
Senior Carp
jon - Originally you ask: " Statistically speaking, and controlling for other relevant variables such as age, class, gender, content of religious instruction, etc., "

But then you say: "You say that someone's willingness to committ terrorist acts has nothing to do with their religious instruction?"

Apparently, I am being criticized for trying to meet the terms of your (perhaps only rhetorical) first question. First, you ask me to ignore religion, and then you are puzzled that I don't include religion as an explanatory factor.

The overwhelming number (nearly all, in fact) of homocide bombers are Muslim, almost none are Christian. Therefore, Muslim religious fanaticism is a key factor, not the occupation. Buddhists and Christians do not commit acts of terrorism against those they don't like, in the way that Muslims do. In short, this is more evidence that it is not the occupation, but the Muslim response to it, that is the main explanatory factor.

Again, I will repeat, the occupation does not cause terrorism. Israeli weakness causes terrorism. This was proven by the Barak/Clinton peace offer. Arafat sensed weakness and tiredness in Israel, and went in for the kill, starting the recent terrorist war. Sharon reponded with military force, overturning Oslo, killing the terrorist leaders, and restoring a situation of relative calm. Israeli weakness and liberal pressure causes terrorism, Israeli strength causes peace. Terrorists are rational, they attack when they think they can win.

As for Gaza in 1995. It would have been suicidal to give any territory to Arafat. Oslo, which rehabilitated the PLO, was also a grave mistake, as Sharon said at the time.
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