by Ron Paul
Ten years ago shocking and horrific acts of terrorism were carried out on US soil, taking over 3,000 innocent American lives. Without a doubt, this action demanded retaliation and retribution. However, much has been done in the name of protecting the American people from terrorism that has reduced our prosperity and liberty and even made us less safe. This is ironic and sad, considering that the oft-repeated line concerning the reasoning behind the attacks is that they hate us for who we are – a free, prosperous people – and that we must not under any circumstances allow the terrorists to win.
Though it is hard for many to believe, honest studies show that the real motivation behind the September 11 attacks and the vast majority of other instances of suicide terrorism is not that our enemies are bothered by our way of life. Neither is it our religion, or our wealth. Rather, it is primarily occupation. If you were to imagine for a moment how you would feel if another country forcibly occupied the United States, had military bases and armed soldiers present in our hometowns, you might begin to understand why foreign occupation upsets people so much. Robert Pape has extensively researched this issue and goes in depth in his book “Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It”. In fact, of 2,200 incidents of suicide attacks he has studied worldwide since 1980, 95% were in response to foreign occupation.
Pape notes that before our invasion of Iraq, only about 10% of suicide terrorism was aimed at Americans or American interests. Since, then however, not only is suicide terrorism greatly on the rise, but 91% of it is now directed at us.
Yes, the attacks of 9/11 deserved a response. But the manner in which we responded has allowed radicals in the Muslim world to advance a very threatening narrative about us and our motivation in occupying their lands. Osama bin Laden referred to us as “crusaders” with a religious agenda to convert Muslims, westernize their culture and take control of their resources. If we had targeted our response to only the thugs and criminals who attacked us, and refrained from invading countries that had nothing to do with it, this characterization would seem less plausible to the desperate and displaced. Blaming Islam alone is grossly misleading.
Instead, we chose a course of action that led to the further loss of 8,000 American lives, left 40,000 wounded and has hundreds of thousands seeking help at the Veterans Administration. We are three to four trillion dollars poorer. Our military is spread dangerously thin around the globe, at the expense of protection here at home. Not only that, but we have allowed our freedoms to be greatly threatened and undermined from within. The Patriot Act, warrantless searches and wiretapping, abuse of habeus corpus, useless and humiliating searches at airports are just a few examples of how we’ve allowed the terrorists to “win” by making our country less free.
Suicide terrorism did not exist in Iraq before we got there. Now it does. There are no known instances of Iranians committing suicide terrorism. If we invade and occupy Iran, expect that to change, too.
Sometimes it can be very uncomfortable to ask the right questions and face the truth. When a slick politician comes along and gives a much more soothing, self-congratulating version of events, it is very tempting to simply believe what we would like to hear. But listening to lies does not make us safer, even though it might make us feel better about ourselves.
The truth is that ending these misguided wars and occupations will make us safer, more prosperous and more free.
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This text is worth everyone’s attention. Where can I find out more?
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I’ve said that least 4503690 times. SCK was here
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I’ve said that least 1947967 times. SCK was here
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You have mentioned very interesting points! ps nice website.
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Of course there are religiously inspired terrorists. They just don’t constitute a large percentage of terrorists. Most terrorists have actual reasons behind their actions. For example, the 93′ attack and 9/11 attacks were widely attributed to our foreign pollicy. Some terrorists were even quoted blaming our foreign policy. But, still. There are those religious nuts who will blow themselves up in Switzerland if they had the chance. But, they aren’t a big problem at all in my opinion.
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And the fact that you think those buildings couldn’t have come down from the damage and fire alone, makes you pretty damn stupid IMO. Those buildings fell nothing like a controlled demolition. If that was the case, why were so many surrounding buildings damaged? and why did the debris cloud engulf the city? That’s because the collapse WASN’T controlled. It was very uncontrolled. The buildings didn’t fall into their own footprint. Huge chunks came off during both collapses.
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The buildings didn’t fall at free fall speed. You can see debris falling past the buildings as they collapsed. 9/11 wasn’t orchestrated by the government. It was exploited. The Nixon Adminstration couldn’t even get away with Watergate during a time when info didn’t leak nearly as easily as now. And yet, you believe the Bush administration orchestrated ALL of 9/11? Doesn’t it seem a little overkilled to you?
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Not bad at all
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Incomplete combustion of jet fuel weakening steel trusses to the point where the whole thing just comes down at free fall speed in itself is an insult to the intelligence of any sensible human being.
Glad you used the words “free fall”
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It took months to set up the controlled demolition to free fall all three World Trade Center Buildings. Any aspiring politician who refuses to acknowledge 9/11 for the inside job both orchestrated and executed by the Bush/Cheney administration is either in on it or stupid. It makes no difference whether they are Republican, Democrat or Independent, when they persist to perpetuate this humongous lie regarding the greatest crime in the history of United States, they should be tried for treason.
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Here we go again with the religion debate. Not all muslims are terrorist, some of the people online are just plain dumb to equate them as true.
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America IS an occupation…It is occupied even further by a British Empire subject Barry Soetoro,… or whatever his name is.. when are you gonna expose THAT Ron?
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And this another for those who dont want to Believe, But Rather be Mislead by the Media.
“They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, “Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear.”
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And this another for those who dont want to Believe, But Rather be Mislead by the Media.
“They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, “Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear.”
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This is a verse from Quran Specifically talking about “Radical Muslims”.
And [there are] those [hypocrites] who took for themselves a mosque for causing harm and disbelief and division among the believers and as a station for whoever had warred against Allah and His Messenger before. And they will surely swear, “We intended only the best.” And Allah testifies that indeed they are liars
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This is a verse from Quran Specifically talking about “Radical Muslims”.
And [there are] those [hypocrites] who took for themselves a mosque for causing harm and disbelief and division among the believers and as a station for whoever had warred against Allah and His Messenger before. And they will surely swear, “We intended only the best.” And Allah testifies that indeed they are liars
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Its nice to see something else good come from Texas besides just it’s history and beauty.
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Dear Lord! Ron Paul is not a 9/11 truther, people. It would help if you actually listened to the video. Come on!
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‘no such thing as Muslims who kill Americans because they are not Muslims’ LOL!!
I did not know there were blind, deaf, and dumb people blogging on YT.
But maybe that explains all the Stupidity!!
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There is no such thing as Muslims who kill Americans because they are not Muslims, why is there a difficulty understanding that, why don’t you replay the video and listen again
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OK, so how would have Ron Paul specifically responded to the terrorism of 9/11 so as to prevent similar acts? Would his approach keep us free from serious attacks over the last 10 years?
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Paul knows that 911 was incited and allowed to happens and was even a demolition controlled look At the evidence it was am inside job so we could start this war to change there ways and steel there oil
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We need this man to lead our country back into freedom and liberty prosperity. He’s 100% right on every issue. All other candidates are liers and evil don’t let Obama or newt gringrichs evil spread. They are trying to change the Islam way of life for a one world gvt. Police state
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Shame that ’13stars’ Loves ‘Russia Today’.
A Puppet Parrots Commie Propaganda, but thinks he is a good American.
Very Sad.
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Oh yeah and the fact that we have been occupying their land and been blowing them up and destroying their homes with depleted uranium has nothing to do with it? Ok yeah makes sence say why don’t you do yourself a favor and look up depleted uranium effects here on youtube and google it. We’ve created monsters because of it and it is nothing to be proud of.
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Terrorists caused 9/11. Case closed.
Terrorists have no religion, no culture, and no nation, though they wear those as costumes to incriminate others. They have loyalty only to their own egos.
The 9/11 assault was an attack against Islam. If you don’t believe that, look at the results.
Who would want to hurt Islam? The zionazis?
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Hey PaulBots – the Fact is that Jihad has been happening for 1400 Years ever since Freak muhammed thing.
They Plan Always and Forever to Never Stop Jihad!!
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Doesn’t that illustrate Ron Paul’s point? The actions of the US government in the Islamic world, overthrowing governments, threatening governments, imposing economic sanctions and establishing military bases enrage and radicalize the locals. There’s a large hatred in the US for Mexican illegal immigrants: now imagine if they were establishing bases and fighting the US government. Wouldn’t many Americans become terrorists? Don’t forget, the US was founded on ‘terrorism’.
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Thank you for telling it like it is Ron Paul! No greater power that evil has than to create fear in all of us. Our rights have been slowly taken away in the name of terror on the American people.
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