Root of Islamic Terrorism?

[mindlight]

So following Trumps big arms deal with the Saudis we have this Sunni alliance against Qatar formed. Qatar is accused being the fountain of terrorist activity in the Middle East and the call is to close down the TV station Al Jazeera also. Qatar also hosts a major American base and interestingly a Turkish base. The Saudis also want this Turkish base closed down.

It seems that Saudi Arabia is the lynch pin of Trumps new foreign policy in the Middle East. He may also have included in his negotiations for this deal some pressure for the Saudis to help deal with Daesh(IS) and also terrorist funding generally in the Middle East. Even funding for the Palestinian organisation may be revoked unless they seek peaceful ways forward in the future. But since the Salafist Jihadi teachings of the Sunni Wahhabi ruling class in Saudi Arabia echo those of Daesh(IS) and of many terrorist groups in the region and since much of the funding for terrorism comes from private Saudi citizens is the focus all wrong here. Saudi Arabia is backing extreme Islamists in Syria and in Yemen in the blood baths developing in both countries.

So it seems there are good and bad things in trumps strategy.

Positively
1) America has a whole load of cash and jobs secured with the Saudi defence contract
2) America has the strongest military power in the region (by spending) as its close ally there.

But my questions are these
1) Is America backing the wrong horse here. The Saudis have sponsored radical Islamic teachings around the world. They are perhaps one of the most antichristian countries on the planet. They fund wars and terrorism across the region that many cite as destabilising
2) Is Qatar being singled out for funding terrorism ( as if other Arab countries are not doing this) or because it is Shia and has links with Iran and Turkey (The 2 big Muslim rivals to Saudi dominance that America has antagonised by affirming this Saudi friendship)
3) What should the Wests response to this crisis be if any?
4) Is the trump strategy going to work here?

 

[Aryeh Jay]

So following Trumps big arms deal with the Saudis we have this Sunni alliance against Qatar formed. Qatar is accused being the fountain of terrorist activity in the Middle East and the call is to close down the TV station Al Jazeera also. Qatar also hosts a major American base and interestingly a Turkish base. The Saudis also want this Turkish base closed down.

It seems that Saudi Arabia is the lynch pin of Trumps new foreign policy in the Middle East. He may also have included in his negotiations for this deal some pressure for the Saudis to help deal with Daesh(IS) and also terrorist funding generally in the Middle East. Even funding for the Palestinian organisation may be revoked unless they seek peaceful ways forward in the future. But since the Salafist Jihadi teachings of the Sunni Wahhabi ruling class in Saudi Arabia echo those of Daesh(IS) and of many terrorist groups in the region and since much of the funding for terrorism comes from private Saudi citizens is the focus all wrong here. Saudi Arabia is backing extreme Islamists in Syria and in Yemen in the blood baths developing in both countries.

So it seems there are good and bad things in trumps strategy.

Positively
1) America has a whole load of cash and jobs secured with the Saudi defence contract
2) America has the strongest military power in the region (by spending) as its close ally there.

But my questions are these
1) Is America backing the wrong horse here. The Saudis have sponsored radical Islamic teachings around the world. They are perhaps one of the most antichristian countries on the planet. They fund wars and terrorism across the region that many cite as destabilising
2) Is Qatar being singled out for funding terrorism ( as if other Arab countries are not doing this) or because it is Shia and has links with Iran and Turkey (The 2 big Muslim rivals to Saudi dominance that America has antagonised by affirming this Saudi friendship)
3) What should the Wests response to this crisis be if any?
4) Is the trump strategy going to work here?

The title is a bit misleading.


In my opinion, Saudi Arabia is a larger and much more dangerous entity than Iran. But, Saudi Arabia is the United Sates friend (because of oil) and Iran is our hated enemy because of the 1979 hostage crises (why the Iranians would hold a grudge for the assignation of their leader in the 50s and the US putting a friendly Shah in power with his secret police is beyond me).


Your question #1. Yes 100%. Look at any radical mosque in the west that has supported terrorism and you will find a Wahhabi Saudi connection 90% of the time.

Your question #2. It is more than likely the Shia links as the Saudis fund more terrorists (indirectly of course) than any other entity.

Your question #3. The West has such a dependency on the oil that only Saudi Arabia can supply in the quantity needed that there is nothing that can be done really (other than in invasion and total occupation).

Your question #4. Probably not.

 

[Albion]

The title is a bit misleading.


In my opinion, Saudi Arabia is a larger and much more dangerous entity than Iran. But, Saudi Arabia is the United Sates friend (because of oil) and Iran is our hated enemy because of the 1979 hostage crises (why the Iranians would hold a grudge for the assignation of their leader in the 50s and the US putting a friendly Shah in power with his secret police is beyond me).

FWIW, I think both of these views are dead wrong. The US has bet on the Saudis through Republican and Democrat administrations alike, except for Obama who decided to bet on the Iranians instead. But on that point, it is also shortsighted to think that Iran, the leading exporter of terror in the world, is in disfavor simply because of the hostage taking of almost 40 years ago.

 

[Paradoxum]

I don't get why we support Saudi Arabia. Iran seems more likely to become a democracy (and it would be if the West (US) didn't screw it).

 

[Goonie]

FWIW, I think both of these views are dead wrong. The US has bet on the Saudis through Republican and Democrat administrations alike, except for Obama who decided to bet on the Iranians instead. But on that point, it is also shortsighted to think that Iran, the leading exporter of terror in the world, is in disfavor simply because of the hostage taking of almost 40 years ago.

You might want to change that to side-bet on Iran. Support for Saudi continued under Obama.

 

[Adstar]

So following Trumps big arms deal with the Saudis we have this Sunni alliance against Qatar formed. Qatar is accused being the fountain of terrorist activity in the Middle East and the call is to close down the TV station Al Jazeera also. Qatar also hosts a major American base and interestingly a Turkish base. The Saudis also want this Turkish base closed down.

It seems that Saudi Arabia is the lynch pin of Trumps new foreign policy in the Middle East. He may also have included in his negotiations for this deal some pressure for the Saudis to help deal with Daesh(IS) and also terrorist funding generally in the Middle East. Even funding for the Palestinian organisation may be revoked unless they seek peaceful ways forward in the future. But since the Salafist Jihadi teachings of the Sunni Wahhabi ruling class in Saudi Arabia echo those of Daesh(IS) and of many terrorist groups in the region and since much of the funding for terrorism comes from private Saudi citizens is the focus all wrong here. Saudi Arabia is backing extreme Islamists in Syria and in Yemen in the blood baths developing in both countries.

So it seems there are good and bad things in trumps strategy.

Positively
1) America has a whole load of cash and jobs secured with the Saudi defence contract
2) America has the strongest military power in the region (by spending) as its close ally there.

But my questions are these
1) Is America backing the wrong horse here. The Saudis have sponsored radical Islamic teachings around the world. They are perhaps one of the most antichristian countries on the planet. They fund wars and terrorism across the region that many cite as destabilising
2) Is Qatar being singled out for funding terrorism ( as if other Arab countries are not doing this) or because it is Shia and has links with Iran and Turkey (The 2 big Muslim rivals to Saudi dominance that America has antagonised by affirming this Saudi friendship)
3) What should the Wests response to this crisis be if any?
4) Is the trump strategy going to work here?

Your heading is misleading...

The root of islamic terrorisim is the quran... devout muslims who read the quran and the accepted hadiths will take part in terrorism, in one form or another..

 

[mindlight]

The title is a bit misleading.

Basically I was examining the claim made by the various Sunni powers in the region


In my opinion, Saudi Arabia is a larger and much more dangerous entity than Iran. But, Saudi Arabia is the United Sates friend (because of oil) and Iran is our hated enemy because of the 1979 hostage crises (why the Iranians would hold a grudge for the assignation of their leader in the 50s and the US putting a friendly Shah in power with his secret police is beyond me).


Your question #1. Yes 100%. Look at any radical mosque in the west that has supported terrorism and you will find a Wahhabi Saudi connection 90% of the time.

Your question #2. It is more than likely the Shia links as the Saudis fund more terrorists (indirectly of course) than any other entity.

Your question #3. The West has such a dependency on the oil that only Saudi Arabia can supply in the quantity needed that there is nothing that can be done really (other than in invasion and total occupation).

Your question #4. Probably not.

Sunnis are giving more to terrorism but the Saudis are regarded as the CEOs of the oil economy. Not sure why with fracking America is backing the Saudis but then I suppose the Iranians are not that friendly to them.

 

[mindlight]

FWIW, I think both of these views are dead wrong. The US has bet on the Saudis through Republican and Democrat administrations alike, except for Obama who decided to bet on the Iranians instead. But on that point, it is also shortsighted to think that Iran, the leading exporter of terror in the world, is in disfavor simply because of the hostage taking of almost 40 years ago.

Iran as the leading exporter of terrorism may be the American party line but is that true?

Iran is supporting the Sovereign government of Syria against terrorists trying to overthrow Assad. America is supporting the terrorists. In the Yemen conflict it is unclear who is backing the legitimate government and who the terrorists. Iran and Saudia Arabia backed by the Americans have clearly taken sides though. Daesh are Sunnis of the Salafist jihadi ilk that Saudia Arabia has spawned and financed down the last 2-3 decades so it might be hard to blame Iran there also!

 

[mindlight]

I don't get why we support Saudi Arabia. Iran seems more likely to become a democracy (and it would be if the West (US) didn't screw it).

Iran has a rapidly growing church. It does seem to have a form of democracy even if the people still elect representatives that Westerners may find hard to deal with. Saudia Arabia kills and persecutes Christians and has no democracy. Saudia Arabia seems to value an American alliance but does not want Americans or American pastors and missionaries. It is clearly an alliance of convenience rather than of values.

 

[mindlight]

Your heading is misleading...

The root of islamic terrorisim is the quran... devout muslims who read the quran and the accepted hadiths will take part in terrorism, in one form or another..

There is a war going on for the heart of Islam between a version of jihad that requires physical war and a more moderate version that sees it in more spiritual terms. But you are right that the Quran is fertile ground for terrorists to base their ideologies on. Daesh are firmly rooted in it as are Hezbollah, the Taliban, Boko Haram and the Saudi Wahhabis.

 

[Albion]

Iran as the leading exporter of terrorism may be the American party line but is that true?

I cannot think of another country that could be considered a leading contender for replacing Iran which has financed terrorists in a number of countries and not with any apologies or subterfuge. However, it looks like your mind is already made up that it has to be someone else.

Your argument, including claims that Iran, which isn't a democracy, should be forgiven for promoting terrorism because she holds mock elections occasionally or that the dictator of Syria is really misunderstood...are probably not going to get too far with me, especially considering that none of it shows them not to be terror-supporting.

 

[mindlight]

I cannot think of another country that could be considered a leading contender for replacing Iran which has financed terrorists in a number of countries and not with any apologies or subterfuge. However, it looks like your mind is already made up that it has to be someone else.

Your argument, including claims that Iran, which isn't a democracy, should be forgiven for promoting terrorism because she holds mock elections occasionally or that the dictator of Syria is really misunderstood...are probably not going to get too far with me, especially considering that none of it shows them not to be terror-supporting.

I will let the facts speak for themselves. Saudia Arabia is the worlds most prolific supporter of Islamic terrorism in the world even if Qatar has been more blatant about it. This is not new as this quote from 2014 indicates.

"While Saudi Arabia is often a secondary source of funds and support for terror movements who can find more motivated and ideologically invested benefactors, Saudi Arabia remains perhaps the most prolific sponsor of international Islamist terrorism, allegedly supporting groups as disparate as the Afghanistan Taliban, Al-Quaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Al-Nursa Front."

Financing Terrorism: Saudi Arabia and Its Foreign Affairs - Brown Political Review

State-sponsored terrorism - Wikipedia

 

[mark46]

Islamic terrorism as we now know it goes back to 1979 when the Revolution took over in Iran, and Saudi Arabia made its deal with the Wahabi imams.

The other incredibly important event was the US agreeing to kick out the all the top Sunnis from the Iraqi army and from the Iraqi government.

 

[mindlight]

Saudi Arabia has 'clear link' to UK extremism, report says - BBC News

 

[mark46]

Saudi Arabia has 'clear link' to UK extremism, report says - BBC News

and the sun will come up in the morning.

There are two leaders of terrorism in the Middle East, fighting each other as they have been for decades. We choose to back the Sunnis and Saudi Arabia.

 

[Paradoxum]

Iran has a rapidly growing church. It does seem to have a form of democracy even if the people still elect representatives that Westerners may find hard to deal with. Saudia Arabia kills and persecutes Christians and has no democracy. Saudia Arabia seems to value an American alliance but does not want Americans or American pastors and missionaries. It is clearly an alliance of convenience rather than of values.

Yeah, I'm not sure why we don't support Iran and democracy.

 

[mark46]

Yeah, I'm not sure why we don't support Iran and democracy.

US policy is not about choosing countries because of their internal politics, although "Death to America" rallies don't help with regard to Iran.

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia (and Pakistan) have been exporters of terrorism. Our current priority is ISIS (DASH). Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been the financers of ISIS and the terrorism schools throughout the world.

 

[Vyrzaharak]

The United States, ever since the 20th century started, has backed the wrong horse when it comes to our foreign interests. Mideastern terrorism is no different.

 

[Paradoxum]

US policy is not about choosing countries because of their internal politics, although "Death to America" rallies don't help with regard to Iran.

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia (and Pakistan) have been exporters of terrorism. Our current priority is ISIS (DASH). Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been the financers of ISIS and the terrorism schools throughout the world.

Maybe Iran is anti-America because of it messing with it. It took away democracy.

Iran seems to be anti-ISIS.

 

[mark46]

Maybe Iran is anti-America because of it messing with it. It took away democracy.

Iran seems to be anti-ISIS.

Current anti-US rallies have little to do with the US interfering with Iran's democracy over 50 years ago. And if they do, then this is all the more reason to have different allies.