Bushbred - what a lot of old pap! The old "west=evil" chestnut is so over done as to be a cliche. If the cause of terrorism is western interference, where are the fanatical Hindus who should be blowing us all up here in the west? I don't see too many Aboriginal people sacrificing themselves in the name of the Rainbow Serpent on the 379 bus. And those oppressed Buddhist terrorists from exploited Asian nations are certainly conspicuous by their absence.

It's not about poverty, or oppression, or western interference. It's about ideology. It's about the worldwide caliphate, the talibanisation of the entire world. No doubt you correctly revile Hitler and the Nazis; what's the difference between them and these new fascists? If it's the wests fault, how do you explain the home grown British suicide bombers?

I don't really give two hoots about the cause of terrorism. Even if western interference was the cause (which it isn't), does that give them the right to kill innocent people? Why don't you stop running around putting the blame on the societies of the world where acceptance and tolerance are the norm and start putting the blame where it belongs - on religious fascists who want to pull the world back to the seventh century.

Bozzie, I think you need to read and study a bit more, the old pap you mention goes back to the time of the Greeks. You talk about fascism which is just another term for elitism, which both America and Britain and Australia are at presently practicing. These Muslims are not out to change the world by conquest - unlike the Americans with the Brits and Aussies tagging along behind. These angry Moslems are the way they are because they are being oppressed and put down by so many of us as low life.

Fascists do not deliberately blow themselves to bits like the Muslims. You sound as if you do not believe the Muslims in the Middle East are fighting against oppression. Once again I say that you should study a bit more, mate, as well as think a bit more. Otherwise it is you who are the elitist, really tied to the old 19th century Darwinian socialist school, which helped to spawn the idea of Nazism, as well as the superior ideas of many modern Americans. So I must say you are well out, mate, in calling our modern Muslims fascists. Certainly the Muslims need to learn from the West, Bozzie, but only so much, for if you think deeply some of their beliefs could in the long run, be superior to yours or mine.

Bushbred - WA

Dear Gary

Thanks for a great article. I will address my thoughts about it later.

What is more pressing is that I remember you as a student at Newcastle Uni around 1970ish. I was the admin secretary for the SRC. For about 12 months you almost drove me nuts with your myriad campaigns! Even so, I always knew that you would reach great academic heights - good on you. My, you do look so different from that short haired, clean shaven young man!

Cheers
Kay

I think a company (about 100-150 men) of Australian SAS has a lot to offer in Afghanistan, with a population of 26 million and a suface area of 660,000 square km. This works out at about one man per 66,000 sq km or one per 260,000 people which seems good odds. Imagine the Roman Army holding down the Roman Empire with one cohort.
Nevertheless, this is a symbolic jesture which I am sure will capture the hearts and souls of Americans and Afghans alike especially when one considers the mountainous terrain and that only about12% of the whole country is arable. How many Russians were deployed there..(send me the answer in a stamped self-addressed envelope).
As for Iraq, it drives a geographic wedge (cuneiform) through the heart of the Middle East leaving Syria and all nuts on the port side and Iran and all its nut on the starboard.
Now if Islamic women who like walking behind their man (as opposed to that song, Stand by your man) all stood up to their patriarchal overlords (as in fundamentalist Judaism and Christianity), they would be liberated from patriarchy and the world would be a better place. One of the advantages of patriarchy is that it keeps women in their place and keeps up the birthrate...see the Catholic Church.

Now I think my woman should walk around with a bag over her head lest she get ideas. After all I am the boss. Now let's get back to Iraq and the real issues which are the liberation of half the population....females...i.e. women and girls...
How about spreading democracy in the USA...could be novel.Now shut up, woman, I told you not to interrupt....you spare rib of Adam.

Whilst media commentators consistently look to government policy in order to find the causes and solutions to the terrorist threat, it is interesting to note that the technique is only effective in "attention grabbing" because of the 'glorification' of these acts through the excessive Western media attention that results.

The Howard government's policy on Iraq has only resulted in benefits for the Prime Minister and similarly for the nation. The decision to go to war did not cost the Liberlas the election, it cost no Australian military lives (yet) nor has it caused a terrorist attack on Australian soil, and, to top it all off, Australia recieved a free trade agreement with the U.S. making us the only nation in the world with a free trade agreement with the U.S. and one pending with China.

The policy of the government on Iraq has, far from being a "strategic blunder", only benefited the Prime Minister and the nation.

As far as Afghanistan is concerned, the government is returning troops to Afghanistan, as well as fulfilling its strategic obligation to Iraq. Why do the U.S., Britain and Australia have to remove their troop commitment from Iraq, in order to fulfill their commitment to Afghanistan? We can, and are doing, both, with only positive results for Australia.

Bushbred – glad to see that you acknowledge your twaddle is as old as the hills. As for your claim that fascism is just another word for elitism – double pap! Fascism is a form of government that is generally cemented in a central dictator. It uses fear and terror to suppress opposition and enacts severe social and economic controls. It’s also usually accompanied by fierce nationalism and racism. Even our top shelf elites, such as Phillip Adams, Robert Manne etc, can hardly be described as fascists.

You then imply that because fascism and elitism are the same it’s us who are the fascists! Apart from this being stupid, it’s quite despicable. You also say that fascists don’t blow themselves up. But this is obviously wrong because these suicide bombers who blow themselves up are clearly fascists. You’re also quite correct when you assume I don’t believe that Arabs are fighting against western oppression. They are the oppressors; they are fighting to oppress us and the rest of the Muslim world. They are fighting for ideology, and any religion that allows these dangerous and warped ideas to flourish to the extent that they control nations and are killing thousands of innocents, is a flawed religion.

So what parts of extremist Islam should we learn from bushbred? Sharia law? Subjugation of women? Religious education? Hatred of other religions? What is the difference between these fascists and say the Ku Klux Klan? Not much from where I stand but it seems you are prepared to tolerate from Islam what you would not tolerate from Christianity. In other words, you’re a hypocrite.

You never answered my questions about the fascist Hindus or the suicide bombing Buddhists. Why not?

And as for your claim that I need to study more (very elitist if I may say so), we could all do with a little bit more study old bean. Especially you it seems. Your superior ejumacayshon certainly hasn’t improved your reasoning processes.