Quote:
|
I like the way we're the big bad bully who had it coming though.
|
Nobody said that.
However, I think there is a greater danger in thinking that we've always been seen as a benign or benevolent presence throughout the Mideast regardless of past actions/policies. The alternative is to believe that 19 guys without any
perceived grievances simply dropped out of the sky on that September morning. As much as it hurt to see Muslims in various countries dancing in the street after 9/11, they had reasons for doing so (in their own minds).
All I'm saying is that it is helpful, perhaps even essential, to understand what their grievances (just or unjust) are in putting together a military, diplomatic, or public policy response. Doing otherwise is simply shooting ourselves in the foot (as we did in Iraq and may be doing again in the case of this mosque).
As a country, ignorance and jingoism will only get us so far.