In a time where the US administration is trying to whip the world in a more agressive stance*, critics across the political spectrum in the US have pointed out how the US so-called war on Iraq has actually damaged the efforts to fight terror and was counter-productive.

Ironically, an egyptian islamist group has come to a similar conclusion in regard of using massive violence by Al Qaeda in the fight for Islam: Egypts largest salafist group Al-Jama'ah, a terrorist group on US lists, has published their conclusions: The authors blame anti-US violence (including the Trade Center bombing) for casting Islam as "the green peril"The whole article is here: 'Al-Qaeda has got it wrong' (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FC26Ak01.html), Asia Times, Mar 26, 2004.

Short of the point I made above, it is sort of illuminating to see how salafist Arabs perceive US foreign policy and national interest - and also the US influence on Al Qaedas ideology - which, and that is IMO one of the most striking parts in the article, differers from the normal Arab version of Salafism in being uniquely "Afghan". The article points out why and the explanation should be reason for a thought or two.

* a little shrill: Don't waffle! Please! Or else they win! Appeasement! Munich 1938! Holocaust! Armageddon!