They wanted to be MARTYRS, now they are in PARADISE!

In Afganistan the Taliban is being fought with education. As the lower classes learn more about the rest of the world and opportunity does become available, Al Qaeda finds it harder to recruit. In Iraq, right after the USA invasion was complete and business could operate normally, guess what was the number one selling consumer electronics product? Satellite dishes! People wanted to know about the rest of the world. Why? Saddam had outlawed satellite dishes for ordinary people. Now, the Iraqi people are telling Al Qaeda to leave or die. I think those satellite dishes have a lot to do with Al Qaeda's defeat. Eventually this is even going to reform Islam as we know it.

Maybe so. It will be interesting watching it all unfold. Your statement regarding satellite dishes and access to world news is very interesting also. I am keen to know if you feel that the bans or restrictions or lack of education measures Saddam imposed differ from the US in any way too? Before anyone gets the wrong idea here; let me explain my question better. There was a Dr Phil show (yes! Dr Phil God help us! lol) a few weeks back that focussed on a girl that had "fled" the US to be with her online boyfriend in Lebanon. There was a massive uproar about this and when she was asked what she knew of the Middle East and its culture her response was "I know nothing about the Middle East because we do not get taught about this region in school." I do realise that Saddam's approach and the USA scenario are dramatically different in terms of severity and control; it is the principle I am interested to hear your view point on. Is there any chance that even the USA makes subliminal moves to ensure that their own citizens are as at least educated about places like Iraq and Iran etc as well? I know people have access to satellite in the US too; but CNN isn't exactly the most unbiased or holistically provided viewpoint. Given that I am living in the Middle East currently; the cable networks take on the region is VERY different to CNN's for example.

Lol. Yes RYBD. That is EXACTLY what it is. I am walking around a predominantly Muslim country after having lived here for close to a year now and doing business with Muslims and interacting with Muslims on a daily basis; yet I am doing so with my eyes and ears firmly shut; totally oblivious to my surroundings and so very ignorant of the truth that is right there in front of me! My last comments by the way were not directed at you personally; but more of a generalization towards many people that DO NOT take the time to consider all angles. Although you are certainly someone I have found to have very strong convictions on a number of topics I certainly don't consider you to be someone who makes light decisions either. Of course this is only a myLot view..... We will just have to agree to disagree on certain aspects of this topic I think!

I'm sure in the case of some members of Al Qaeda, you are completely correct. For other members, I think they don't even believe the lie and don't care it is a lie. Some members just want an excuse to rationalize the violence they want to commit. Yes, such people exist.

I agree with you completely, it's hard for me to realise sometimes that I may actually be standing next to such a person in the grocery line or bank line. That there are people out there just that evil with no conscience or remorse for anything they do, yet they smile, hold the door open for you etc... Makes me shiver just thinking about it.

Yes, it is true. Young Muslims are starting to figure out the scam that is costing their lives. This will be a defeat for Al Qaeda but a victory for humankind, to include the Al Qaeda members.

In the sense you mean defeat, you are right they are not defeated. Too bad they believe in polygamy. All the excess men unable to obtain wives because there are not enough women for every man to have multiple wives is a big part of why their young men are available for senseless slaughter. A young man without a wife or any hope of getting one has no reason to live and less likely to care if he gets killed in a war.

True, it may be winding down in Iraq, but world wide the problem is far from over.

I too, think we will hear more about Al Qaeda. It probably just will not be in Iraq unless it is about more POW's being captured or leaders killed.

I think that if Al Qaeda is defeated, it is only Al Qaeda in Iraq.