The author failed to mention the vast sums which are syphoned off the United States operations in Iraq and Afghanistan which go via some not so circuitous routes to Al Queda and the Taliban through all those subcontractors that the US army employs.

David

Interesting post, but we must never forget that the huge majority of terrorists today are created by the plundering imperialism of the West. Yes, I know it's more sophisticated that the 19th C form - we don't just seek to steal, we often simply want control, perhaps to stop China and others getting in and taking the resources first.

Al Qaida may well have come into existence anyway, but the fact is that is was largely created by a US initiative. Blowback is real.

Australia has suffered for the simple reason that we fully support this new form of imperialism.

Yes very few mention the financial terrorists who siphoned off $ trillions in savings and super.They are still doing it.Since 2008 the Private US Federal Rerserve has created $ 15 trillion from nothing and billed much of this to the US Tax payer.It has created inflation around the planet and forced our interest rates.Much of this money @ 0% interest has further expanded the worthless derivative market.

Our super funds buy into US Govt bonds thinking they are safe.The US Govt will eventually default and the bonds will be worthless.A bond is a Govt pledge to repay the debt.This is why the price of gold continues to escallate.