there is no single reason for the states to invade iraq -- reality is never so neatly compartmentalized. single bullet theories are for fools, those who believe lee harvey oswald is the only person repsonsible for JFK's death. So i don't think you're doing yourself any favours with the "the only reason that X did Y is because of Z" approach.
I'm afraid soopaman's comment is all too accurate. too big a topic to get into, but...yeah.
Also, being "anti-terrorist" may sound good on the surface, but remember that americans who fought for and won independence from the brits were branded with the same label. The term is so ideologically charged as to be nearly useless for rational discourse. Persuasive communication aimed at the masses is a different story.
I echo birdy's comment about the unfair use of the term 'anti-semite'...the fact is that the guilt and horror and shame and rage and pain of the holocaust has tainted public debate about israel in unparalleled fashion. it prevents valid criticism of israel, and valid criticism is the lifeblood of public life -- it prevents the oppressed from becoming the oppressor. ironically, israel could learn a lot from modern german society.
its a similar phenomenon that shields Japan from the much-deserved criticism they deserve for their actions in WW2 - and which few dare to raise because of hiroshima and nagasaki......
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