What we have seen is statements from AQ that call SH an 'infidel' and a 'socialist;' we know that Iraq was a secular arab state and that for a pan-arab Islamic uprising to succeed then pro-Islam Iraq was desirable; we know that one of the many things that could get you killed in Iraq was to pray a bit too much; we know that there weren't any 'terrorist' bases in Iraq (Powell be damned, Ansar al-Islam were active in Kuridish Iraq) ...
Occams.
****in'
Razor.
No, I don't know that Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11, but I don't know that the US had anything to do with the overthrow of the democratic government of Argentina on 9/11/76 either. And it did. Get my point?
Seems to me Occam's Razor would push one in the opposite direction: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
How much did we have in common with Stalin? Yet we managed to put aside our differences when it served our needs.
Seems something similar might have happened with Saddam and OBL.
By your logic, Saddam and the US could also have collaborated to destroy ObL.
It's just as likely according to you. Tell me, how many meetings do you think occured between US and Iraqi officials discussing a common approach to their joint enemy, al-Qaeda?
The fatal flaw in your argument is that you are applying western logic, not the Islamic theological thinking that drives Obl (unless you want to argue that it doesn't and that al-Q is not Islamic fundamentalist - we can go there if you like).
I've argued precisely this point in the past. Radical Islam represents a politicization of Islam rather than a return to Islamic fundamentals. Moreover, whatever OBL's theology, he wouldn't shed too many tears over the persecution of Iraq's "apostate" Shia by Saddam.
Comments
Originally posted by zaphod_beeblebrox
I don't know whether or not Iraq had anything to do with 9/11 and neither do you, Harald.
You might just as well include Castro and Kim Ill Young.
Originally posted by New
You might just as well include Castro and Kim Ill Young.
Did similar articles appear in Cuban and North Korean newspapers?
I didn't think so.
Originally posted by segovius
By the same token you don't know if OBL had anything to do with it either...
He did take responsibility for Mogadishu, though. That was enough for me to go after him anyway.
Originally posted by zaphod_beeblebrox
I didn't write anything about a "clear link".
Please note I said Bush is a goddamn liar and not zaphod beeblebrox is a goddamn liar.
I will, however, now write that zaphod is a goddamn overreactor and is a goddamn rude person that uses the rolleyes smiley.
Originally posted by BR
Please note I said Bush is a goddamn liar and not zaphod beeblebrox is a goddamn liar.
I also didn't didn't say you accused me of lying.
I will, however, now write that zaphod is a goddamn overreactor and is a goddamn rude person that uses the rolleyes smiley.
Too bad for you.
OK, I wasn't at any meetings between AQ and SH.
What we have seen is statements from AQ that call SH an 'infidel' and a 'socialist;' we know that Iraq was a secular arab state and that for a pan-arab Islamic uprising to succeed then pro-Islam Iraq was desirable; we know that one of the many things that could get you killed in Iraq was to pray a bit too much; we know that there weren't any 'terrorist' bases in Iraq (Powell be damned, Ansar al-Islam were active in Kuridish Iraq) ...
Occams.
****in'
Razor.
No, I don't know that Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11, but I don't know that the US had anything to do with the overthrow of the democratic government of Argentina on 9/11/76 either. And it did. Get my point?
"Bleeding obvious."
Originally posted by Harald
Occams.
****in'
Razor.
Seems to me Occam's Razor would push one in the opposite direction: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
How much did we have in common with Stalin? Yet we managed to put aside our differences when it served our needs.
Seems something similar might have happened with Saddam and OBL.
Originally posted by zaphod_beeblebrox
Seems to me Occam's Razor would push one in the opposite direction: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
How much did we have in common with Stalin? Yet we managed to put aside our differences when it served our needs.
Seems something similar might have happened with Saddam and OBL.
By your logic, Saddam and the US could also have collaborated to destroy ObL.
It's just as likely according to you. Tell me, how many meetings do you think occured between US and Iraqi officials discussing a common approach to their joint enemy, al-Qaeda?
Zaphod, dude ...
Originally posted by segovius
No it doesn't .
The fatal flaw in your argument is that you are applying western logic, not the Islamic theological thinking that drives Obl (unless you want to argue that it doesn't and that al-Q is not Islamic fundamentalist - we can go there if you like).
I've argued precisely this point in the past. Radical Islam represents a politicization of Islam rather than a return to Islamic fundamentals. Moreover, whatever OBL's theology, he wouldn't shed too many tears over the persecution of Iraq's "apostate" Shia by Saddam.