Born. I don't have a solution. If I did I?d be shouting it from the rooftops. I just do not agree with the way we are dealing with it now. Not because i love Islam, not because i am on the side of the Islamic extremists but because
a) I am very uncomfortable with the mass killings of innocent civilians in order to try and weed out a minority (and they are a minority)
b) And this is very important. IT'S NOT WORKING. I don't know how else to put it.
Iraq has descended into a bloody and dangerous civil war. The US/UK can deny it all it wants but that is the situation there at the minute. Yes Saddam has gone but did that end justify what has happened in the country since? Can you honestly, hand on heart, say that now because they get to vote, Iraqis are living a better life? I don't think you'll find a person in Baghdad that will agree.
Hezbollah has become active again and Hamas got into power in Palestine. The only achievement of widespread killing, abuses by the army etc is to gain and garner support for these organisations.
Also let me tell you one thing about these so called Islamic extremists. They could be your next door neighbour. Literally. They are no different to any other Muslim on the surface. Here is some information on the men they have arrested in England over the last few days (and before anyone says send them back - they are mainly British born which means they are as British as I am)
Art student Don Stewart-Whyte switched to Islam as his sister forged a glamorous and successful career parading the catwalks in lingerie for firms including Victoria's Secret, Versace, Armani, and Chanel. Friends of the suspect, one of 24 arrested after raids in London, High Wycombe, Bucks and Birmingham, told how he never got over his father's death.
"I knew him when he joined the Christian church and he told me about trying to kill himself and had scars all over his wrist. He just cried about it all the time. Maybe he got involved in the Muslim faith because it is like a big family and he wanted his back."
Stewart-Whyte, who lives with Dorothy in Hepplewhite Close, High Wycombe, was said to have converted to Islam after turning his back on drink and drugs.
Another convert Ibrahim Savant, 25, is an accountant who lives at who lives at Alkham Road in Stoke Newington, East London, with his pregnant Muslim wife Atika Sidyot - who was also arrested - and her family. He was born with the Christian name Oliver but changed it when he switched to Islam after meeting Atika a few years ago.
Brothers Nabeel Hussain, 17, Umair, 24, and 22-year-old Mehrain were arrested in Hackney, East London. Nabeel lived with a group of youngsters in Royston Gardens and worked in the administration department at nearby St Anne's Hospital. The brother's dad Fazil wept yesterday as he declared: "My boys wouldn't hurt a fly. When the police came to my house, we thought our children had been in an accident"
One suspect held in Walthamstow, East London was a trainee probation officer. On shocked friend said: "Assan is a probation officer trying to help people in the community, not trying to kill them." Khan, of Banbury Rd, worked for Ilford Probation service who last night were unaware of his arrest.
Avid Chelsea fan Assan Abdullah Khan, 21, is doing a degree at the University of Hertfordshire while working. His brother Abdula Ahmed Ali, 25, was also held along with his wife Cossor Ali, mother of a six-month-old baby.
Football-mad Liverpool fan, Waheed Zaman, 23, is a biochemistry student whose dream was to become a doctor. He was due to sit his final exams in two weeks time.
he was described as an excellent role model and an "ideal Muslim" who is a "Londoner first and a Muslim second".
These just sound like normal boys, living normal lives, doing normal things that you and I might do. Hell, i might sit next to Assam Abdullah Khan at Chelsea. Nothing would indicate these boys were Muslim extremists (if they are at all). They don't force it on me and they seem to have lived their lives within society, going to the football, having normal jobs, having families etc. One person who knew one of the suspects said 'I knew this guy, Waseem. I don't know if he did what he is accused of - and if he did them they should throw away the key. But my point is he was an ordinary taxi driver, an ordinary bloke who used to drink too much. It's like anybody can be a terrorist'
How can we stop young men like this? Well we have to take away their anger and injustice. And that Born, was created, when the USA (and others) decide they will dictate the future and the means that other countries will live. When they impose sanctions that cripples a nation, when the back Israel and allow it to commit War Crimes against others, When they allow Israel to occupy land that isn't theirs. Allah Ditta, 19, a muslim from High Wycombe where some of the arrested live said ' You know what's behind this don't you? It's British foreign policy. I know people don't like to hear it, but it's true. When you put young guys in front of images that shows the result of what goes on in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon some of them will flip. It's not the right conclusion but it's idiotic to pretend that it won't be reached by some'
I don't know what the solution is unfortunately but that doesn't mean i agree that we should carry on as we are. Maybe we should stop the killing and survey the wreckage. Maybe we should engage these people in talks and diplomacy rather than stating we have launched a war on terror on them. By saying you are at war with them means they have to take up arms and fight back. And you are also wrong to say if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. The problem is Born you have swallowed your US citizenship as much as some redneck hillbilly WASP. You are being so patronising going on about 'The American Dream' making everyone's life better and those who don't conform are backwards. This is exactly the reason you will never be able to see this situation in a non biased way.