undefined | Better HN

0 pointsdrumdance10y ago0 comments

Yes of course they're long term goal is a caliphate. But they attacked the US because our presence was a direct obstacle. They didn't put suicide bombers in China or Copenhagen or Paris for that matter.

Back in 1991 after Saddam invaded Kuwait, I remember thinking "why the hell do we have to solve the problem? Why not force Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States to take responsibility for their security?"

Practically all the Islamist terrorism that the US has experienced since then has flowed from that decision.

The likelihood of terrorism should be part of any decision making process when it comes to the Mideast, no different than estimating potential body counts from land invasion.

At least Eric Shinseki wasn't afraid to estimate the real costs of the Iraq war.

0 comments

2 comments · 1 top-level

dragonwriter10y ago· 1 in thread

> But they attacked the US because our presence was a direct obstacle. They didn't put suicide bombers in China or Copenhagen or Paris for that matter.

al-Qaeda has for more than a decade overtly targeted China over its policies in Xinjiang, and the Chinese government claimed that the East Turkistan Islamic Movement behind many attacks there was tied to al-Qaeda (and, indeed, some senior leaders of that organization were killed in fighting against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.)

drumdanceOP10y ago

Fair point, but again, there is a specific grievance involving the Uighurs, who have been persecuted by the Chinese for decades.

BTW if you ever go to a Uighur restaurant try the horse. Tastes like chipped beef.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse