How two teens were recruited for jihad

ronaldharris — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:06:27 GMT

hope the parents can help their sons

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mike — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:06:51 GMT

Not too different from some of the teenagers here in the US who see no future, no opportunity, and no purpose. Just our kids turn to gangs, drugs, and individual suicides rather than jihads, suicides and mass murder.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Beene Okwir, Beltsville, Maryland — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:16:53 GMT

It is clear a sense of hope and purpose is missing some where. Making youth easy target for any cause any ideology, just or not. Perhaps, the world leadership should start looking at how to fill this void, give hope, with core solutions that will improove economies in such depressed areas of the world.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Starting To Understand — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:23:20 GMT

They sound like two boys with nothing to keep themselves busy after school. They have become bored, and are looking for some excitement. Some one showed up and said "Look at what we have to offer: A chance to blow something up!". How exciting! In an atmosphere of this sort, it is no wonder that extremely bored and unhappy teenagers would look at something like this as the ultimate escape from the drudgery of their present lives. I'm sure it is part of the plan of the Taliban, that by not allowing any sort of purely recreational activities, or the opportunity to work at a choice of different jobs, they know that young men will become bored and disillusioned, and will quickly accept any opportunity to escape it, even if it means killing and bombing innocent civilians. As with each of us in this world, having opportunities to try different life-enhancing activities lets young people see that success can come in many different forms. One result of not having those same opportunities is the Taliban. Vicious circle, no?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Scott, Buffalo, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:25:09 GMT

"Maybe" is the answer. The boy is on the fence! How are we winning HIS heart and mind? By putting an army base in his country? By letting him watch us harass his countrymen while we look for the 'enemy' (whomever that may be)? He says there is nothing there for him. So let's put something there. Rather than an army, we need to be offering education and opportunity. Rather than modeling how to fight, we should model how to learn and build.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Eric — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:30:16 GMT

And now the wisdom of a religious commandment, "thou shalt not want" becomes clear. Obviously there sre many other tennants that ancient religions incorporated in order to maintain order and a secure civil society. Oddly our constitution was written with the idea that religions were the province of the people and law that of government. What happens when religions are corrupted or non existent? Well as we can see, those pieces of ancient wisdom also become lost or corrupt.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Don - Ohio — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:32:53 GMT

I wonder how many wealthy muslims send thier children to become a suicide bomber? All the wealth in the mideast too bad only a select few get to enjoy it. So please tell me, where is this glorious memorial for all of those suicide jihad bombers? Is there a list of greatness, or perhaps its a list of fools.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

gene magill ,Olathe, CO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:43:08 GMT

they should start some kind of industry, a woolen mill,rug factory,etc.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

John T. Puffer, Baytown, TX. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:49:33 GMT

This is another example of how weak- minded the People of this religion really are. How anyone could use, and allow their children to be used, for such a purpose. The governments, and the people, need to put a stop to this sort of brain-washing and join the rest of the world, or close their borders and quit actively looking for any reason to satisfy their bloodlust.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jeremy Stephens Blackfoot Idaho — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:54:48 GMT

Anyone that teaches children to kill Americans,should be considered an enemy of the state. And we should take measures to ensure this kind of hate propoganda does not go unpunished.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Damian McDonald Washington DC — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:57:19 GMT

Here's a telling comment: "We are so unhappy with our lives here. We have nothing," he said. So why blame, Israel, the USA and non-muslims? Could it possibly be their archaic backward beliefs that cause them to have nothing? I mean half the workforce (the female half) is not even allowed to drive, go to school or work in some muslim countries. Sadly, muslims are not known the world over as being ambitious or industrious. Maybe it's an undeserved reputation, but it's their reputation nonetheless. Here in the US we read stories daily about trouble with their beliefs. Recently, muslim cashiers at Target stores refused to do their jobs and ring up customers purchases if they did not meet muslim religious laws. They had nothing where they come from and they appear to want to have nothing here.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

fred charatan, Boynton Beach, FL — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:05:49 GMT

Tragic that the absence of any judgment in Muslim teens or their immaturity is exploited by those who recruit them for jihad or suicide bombing. Teens should ask themselves, what evidence is there for the paradise they believe death will provide them, other than pure faith? One of them said he yearned for "greatness", based upon which of his talents, other than killing non-Muslims? And, as a Muslim elder said, suicide is murder and against Islam. We should therefore ask Kofi Annan, former UN chief, why he did not denounce suicide bombing as a crime against humanity, after his staff, including a Brazilian diplomat, were blown up in Baghdad. Would it have been politically incorrect to do so??

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Elaine Connelly — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:07:23 GMT

Remember this is the religion that says there is no God but Allah, one of the principal tenets of their religion is to KILL ALL NON-BELIEVERS. This includes all here in the US who think that we can reason with these people. With the above kind of thinking, for the radical muslims it is KILL OR BE KILLED. Sorry, but that is the way it is. I feel badly for people who fall into this way of thinking but REMEMBER GOD GAVE US FREEWILL, AND THAT INCLUDES THE TERRORISTS. GOD DID NOT SAY WE SHOULD LAY DOWN AND DIE BUT WE SHOULD FIGHT FOR THE GOOD AGAINST THE EVIL. RADICAL MUSLIMS ARE EVIL.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

B. Smith Phoenix, AZ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:14:24 GMT

It's simple to fill a void of hopelessness. It's the Savior. Try finding the Savior to help overcome problems and these feelings.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Tim Schulz, Walcott, ND — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:14:33 GMT

We should have made Afghanistan a model of a modern Islamic nation, but instead we dropped the ball and went into Iraq. We had the moral authority to change Afghanistan but we wasted our goodwill in Iraq.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mambo Racine — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:15:29 GMT

Oh, I'm so poor, my life is so hopeless, I think I will... what? Work to improve my society? Nah... blow up a few innocent people. Can't fault logic like that.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

John C, Sterling Heights, MI — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:15:55 GMT

That sucks. I can't blame them for thinking that way. When a person has no options they will always go to whatever looks good even if it's bad. This though burns me because this is equivalent to a gang member or drug dealer recruiting kids for illegal activities. I don't care what nation the child is in they and the elderly should be the most defended members of a society. Laws need to be put into place so that criminals and extremists think twice on preying on these members of society. Also, we need to start getting options to these people so that jihad doesn't have that appeal to be the only thing that is great for them. This part of the world really needs to look deep inside themselves and ask what is best for my people and how can I do that while living with other cultures on this planet.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jason Luedeman, Buffalo NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:16:40 GMT

Unfortunately, there are people out there who have twisted a normally peaceful religion into hate, bigotry and violence. True Islam doesn't teach these things, in fact Islam teaches peace, compassion, respect for your elders and yourself and above all, respect and tolerance for other cultures and religions. what these people are doing to those impressionable youg boys is nothing short of reprehensible.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

RB Chandler, Arcosanti,AZ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:18:41 GMT

We are trying to fight an ideal with guns and bombs. When are we going to wake up and realize those are not the weapons we should be using. Until we begin to address the underlying causes that allow terrorist to easily recruit people without any hope for a better life we will never win the war on terror.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Joe Blow — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:21:46 GMT

Get them electricity, a play station, and some herb.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JLM. St. Louis, MO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:25:16 GMT

Just an another example that religion is the major cause of the world's problems. Catholics verses Protestant. Sunni verses Shite. Muslims verses anyone else. Evangelical Christians verses anyone else.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

George Edwards , Fenton , Ms. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:26:00 GMT

In the first paragraph the two boys said they were so unhappy with thier lives , and they have nothing. My first thoughts are , the one's responsible for thier having nothing clearly places the quilt on the one's that recruit them. The jihad leaders are clearly turning the truth of their failure towards hating others. Those Islamic extremist jihad leaders and thier ungodly ways of life are clearly the ways of oppression. And the jihad are the one's that are liers and teaching that non-muslims are the evil and they ( jihad ) turns the truth of the problems to hate the innocent.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Tim Mullins, Port Angeles, WA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:29:13 GMT

The solution for this problem might lie somewhere in the domain of the old carrot and stick approach. True this is an antiquated paradigm, associated with gunboat diplomacy and Teddy Roosevelt, but that view of the idiom is a result of plicies weighted toward policies weighted towards the 'stick' end of the paradigm. If we were to initiate aid, lots of it, say a portion of what we currently spend on maintaining a military presence abroad? While it might be an uncomfortable addition to the budget, it might just sway some of these children currently being used to advance the policies of deranged lunatics preying upon the weaknesses of the poor over to the side of peaceful coexistence. And the heavy handed use of force when it is truly warranted probably wouldn't affect their viewpoint of the US in the event it had to be used then, instead it would most likely be considered an additional reason not to join those outside the fringes of humanity to find a solution to their dilemna.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

choudry buttar, gastonia north carolina. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:32:10 GMT

we are the rich nation (US)on earth we should do some ecnomical help which give them some hope in there lives and to discourage this idea from the grass root. and this idea is also against Islam.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

steve — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:37:27 GMT

Scott in Buffalo, what you suggest is exactly what we are TRYING to accomplish in Iraq. What makes you think it would go any better in Pakistan? The schools we have set up in Afganistan are being burned down and the teachers intimidated, beaten, and killed. We have to take on and rid the world of these brainwashing lunatics who prey on the very hopelessness they create and interfere with anyone trying to better the lives of their people. Only then can we create "hope" for these populations - oh, and also only if the Democrats think it's okay.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Michael Moore — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:39:11 GMT

Stupid liberal Americans. Oh yea, did I mention that the Democrats are idiots too?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jim — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:39:37 GMT

Why does a freedom fighter translate into suicide bombing to these crazy jihadists...Why don't they assemble an army and fight like men in a field of battle...so we can get this over with once and for all. If they win, they can go back to beating their wives, chopping each others hands off, eating lamb and figs and whatever else they do...If they lose, hopefully we will never have to read about, or see these crazy kooks ever again.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JPN, Lakeland, FL — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:40:48 GMT

I agree with JLM. Religion is at the heart of most of the world's conflict. I just can't understand why anyone would want to worship a deity who tells them to go kill people. I wish people would give up religion & just use common sense.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

linda Toles LIC NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:42:43 GMT

just as the teens in the U.S. glorify the thug life, these teens glorify the jihad life. But in these countries there is no hope for a better life in real time. So the virgins they think they will recieve in the hereafter has a great deal to do with it. I dont care who your god is, young boys want sex.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Roger Kahle, Westminster, Co. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:43:17 GMT

We saw similar action taken by Hitler prior to WW2,in the mass execution of people just because they were Jewish. This is the type of thinking caused by poverity and ignorance, and there is always some one there to exploit these issues to their advantage. Never forget the Hitler youth movement, we should have learned our lesson then, we have to reach the young people through what ever means possible to change this way of thinking, poverty harms more than most free people know.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jennifer, St. Louis, Missouri — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:43:44 GMT

Jason Luedeman - Have you ever lived in the middle east? I lived there, breathed it, and immersed myself in the culture and I saw and heard about the reprehensible hatred that comes with the religion of Islam from former muslims themselves. It definately is not a peaceful religion.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

steve — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:44:33 GMT

You people suggesting financial aid to these countries are out of your friggin' minds. Where do you think it will end up? In the terrorists' pockets. Wake up you bleeding hearts! you cannot reason with these lunatics or buy them off with financial aid, you have to eliminate them.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Daniel Ettinger, Salt Lake, Utah — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:45:17 GMT

Those who create nothing usually have nothing. Those who accept poverty will leave it as their legacy. The idea that it's somehow our responsibility to get a nation like Afghanistan off it's dead ass to develop is ludicrous. These people, like all the other Islamic nations whose governments preach death and hate to non-Muslims are a bunch of sheep allowing themselves to be led by the nose. At least, when we got fed up with England doing that to us, we rose up and fended for ourselves. They can do the same. They're apparently at peace with being cowards towards their own.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Cole Hansen, Denver — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:49:51 GMT

FYI, this is the standard tenament of Madrassas - to teach hardline Islam and to teach anti-western ideology. Madrassas are about controlling information to control the populace to have them do the bidding of one insurgent/terrorist group or another. There are Madrassas in America that teach the same teachings - no kidding. Regardless of the Madrassas, one needs to listen to the these 2 teens. Yes, they said they have nothing in their village but they said they "wanted to be great"; to have a wonderful afterlife and the Madrassas feed them this garbage and they believe it. Honestly, worldy education is the key, not criminalized secular religion. Christians had their time with this back in the day but one would think that educated persons would have learned by now and know better. Most of the leaders of these Madrassas are highly educated and worldly. They use Hitleresque type rhetoric under the guise of Islam to do their disingenious power hungry bidding. In all of the wars that have transpired, from the dawn of time to present, the children tend to suffer the most and most often times are manipulated by religion, government, what have you. Religious leaders adlib the Qu'ran, Bible, etc. to serve their selfish means at the behest of many youth and uneducated that know no better. It is this manipulative religious conviction that tends to outweigh the true teachings and logic for that matter.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Angela, Saint Paul, MN — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:57:57 GMT

This is sad...it's hard to believe that the actual driving force behind the boys' actions and enrollment within a school that teaches jihad is boredom, but that is what it seems. As a nation, i have no initial idea of what we could do to aid this obviously growing problem. I do not believe that it is our job to entertain the world's citizens by offering them extra-curriculars, but it is obvious that something must be done within the families (since they obviously don't agree with the teaching of jihad) or the State government cracking down harder on such schools.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

BIODUN ,KETU,LAGOS — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:59:03 GMT

there is more to what the eye can see.islam is succeeding in causing uproar in the world may God help them to know the truth[JESUS].

How two teens were recruited for jihad

delta, MS — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:00:43 GMT

Why do we (USA) have to support them ecnomically? You might as well put the rest of the world on wellfare. Right?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Anonymous, USA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:01:36 GMT

Oh by the way, we already pump millions and millions of dollars into Pakistan. People feel that throwing money at a problem solves everything. How naive! It does no good when that money lines the pockets of those in charge and never sees its way to the populace. We can not necessarily force that. Look at a lot of our own charities and organizations that use more money to run it than gets spent on helping the populace - it's a farce. Also, these guys live in an area that has a peace accord where the Pakastani Government doesn't go in that area and the Mullahs/Shuras take the control and responsibility. So, do some math here or try this analogy - while the cat is away the mice shall play. Well here, the mice are training the little mice and foreign mice to blow themselves, along with anyone else, up in Afghanistan. That is not a struggle (which is what jihad means) against the infidels, but suicide, murder and stupidity - no virgins for you!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Gremlikin, Bensalem Pa — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:05:03 GMT

There are no simple answers or solutions - this is a mess that all of humanity will have to clean up together, or be swep off like the sands of time to be replaced by new angry, hopeless, ignorant people.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Niddy, Philadelphia PA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:06:28 GMT

There are a lot of stupid comments here and again it shows that Americans just don't understand the Muslim world or where it is. First of all Pakistan is not part of the Middle East, so please never refer to it as such. Secondly stupid comments about how half the work force cannot work or drive are plain idiotic and stereotypical--the only country in the entire Muslim world where this is true is Saudi Arabia. As for specifics, isn't it about time that we realize that there is more to all this than religion. religion plays a big role, but the fuel to the attitude of these kids is their soceo-economic status. Pakistan is a very very poor country, millions in poverty. People have nothing to live for or look forward to in their daily lives and so some people can be easilyu convinced to transcend materialism and think about things spiritually or existentially or whatever you wanna call it. If you can do that to someone it doesn't matter what their religion is. Or even if you do look at it materially, the kids who join these groups get paid, they get to carry a gun and then all the little kids also look up to them. Instead of being in a band you join some group and it seems all your dreams come true. I just hope people see things as they are and try to interpret them based on universal human actions and reactions not some stereotypical mumbo jumbo advocated by a bunch of idiots who have other ulterior motives other than making America safe.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Alex Kasady, Omaha, Nebraska — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:07:50 GMT

Well, it's like my priest once said: "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything." Clearly, Islam has failed these two young men, as it has failed millions of others. As religions go, Islam is a failure. There isn't a single solid, healthy society built around it. Ever wonder why the most successful societies are also Christian-based?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Don Lisdahl, Jr. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:09:09 GMT

In my religion, people who kill other people go to hell. People who kill other people intentionally will probably go to hell. My religion is just as important to me as the Muslims is to them. But killing people is wrong in any religion. There may be some way to claim self-defense as a reason, but the commandment says" Thou shall not kill". Not thou shall not kill except in self-defense. Turning the other cheek is easy to say, but difficult to live. I don't believe there was any small print in the ten commandments. The words are clear. Take them for what they say. Jihad or no jihad, God does not want us to kill. Jihad is something religious zealots used to control a more un-civilized population thousands of years ago. Kill what you don't like and it will go away. Too bad there isn't a way to prove ANY religion. Not one crumb of hard evidence there is a heaven or a hell. Or a God for that matter. But without religion, can you imagine what this world would be like? It is the conscience of the great majority of the world that keeps us from randomly killing each other. And it's the people who don't have that conscience that need religion to keep them on the right track. And whoever is left over needs to be gotten rid of, like cancer. But if I pull out my deer rifle and shoot someone who is going to shoot another person, will I go to hell? Think about it. Who are the Muslims to decide who dies and who doesn't? I don't blame other countries for thinking about the U.S. the way they do. We are a corrupt country, only concerned about money. The oil companies, drug companies,. auto manufacturers, etc. care NOTHING about you or me. The huge profits oils brings in and yet the American public has to pay, out of their pockets, for a medical center for our wounded vets returning from war. Don't be angry. Do something about it. Stop driving the big SUV that burns double the gas that is needed. Status symbols. I know we are not all greedy Americans. I've seen too many people who care. But we need more people who care. Not about themselves but about others who need help. So the base is out there. Just don't give the world a reason to hate us and they won't.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Michael J Brooks, Edmonton, Alberta — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:09:54 GMT

yea its not the states and there is little or no hope for them outside of the path they took, due to the fact that everything wasn't working there to begin with. If you start with something thats not working what do you think it will become when it gets worse? probly what we're seeing now.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Richardo Lee, New-Brunswick, NJ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:12:40 GMT

This is a perfect diffamation case, choosing someone around 17 just not to make it a lie, What is the difference between 17 and 18 that is recruted by the regular army?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

alfonso r. gutierrez — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:14:49 GMT

Well it all start's at home, and apprentally this family failed (Yes you did). Now you have to live with it, and it would be very hard to reverse there minds??

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Gary, Houston Texas — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:15:25 GMT

If you take 1 person out of poverty over there, 800 will take his place. How much are you willing to give out of your pocket to those who need it and what kind of difference will it make. I already know, none! We give Billions in money and good to help the world, it has not done anything except make them hate us. WE can not make them change, only they can.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Brian, Detroit, MI — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:22:52 GMT

"I want to be great," he says. Well, you have the opportunity. You claim that you have nothing and there is nothing where you live. So you have the choice of working to improve the lives of your people, or abandon them and fight to destroy the things others have. I have an idea for you. The article mentions that the school offers engineering courses. It also mentions how the Buner area is underdeveloped. Take engineering courses and work to develop your community. These kids have nothing to do, so recruit them to work on your developement project. Use the same tactics as the warmongering jihadists. Convince kids that they will become "great" if you improve the lives of your fellow people. Your ways are flawed. In the words of Muhammad, "Holy is the warrior who wrestles with himself."

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jane Waterford, Raleigh, NC — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:25:00 GMT

Everyone knows a million ways to fix the problems we have in this world, but sadly only very few materialize.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

NU, Greensboro, NC — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:27:14 GMT

Young Boys, Do not think non-muslims are evils. Most of terorists who killed inocents are muslims. Muslims can not live with non-muslims because they practice evil and selfish teachings. Islam is nothing but religious colonialism. Muslims are trying to invade others territary. I studied Koran I found many voilent teachings and encourage to purnish others believers. It is not peaceful religion. We Americans should carefuly think about this. Boys, come back to peaceful lives and your relirion is not peaceful religion. NU

How two teens were recruited for jihad

E. B. McCoy, Huntington WV — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:27:19 GMT

The devil is "like a thief in the night who comes to kill steal and destroy." Seems like the devil is busy at work appealing the poor boys who are transitioning to men all over the world. It is the same in the USA when Drug dealers push crack on our 9 to 18 year old boys who cant feed or dress themselves by any other means. When these boys take up this means of survivial and fullfillment communities and lives are destroyed. Lets pray for these boys everywhere. Afterall the devils snare is exposed.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Shep — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:27:58 GMT

Accepting US aid is definitely part of the answer. Americans need to spend their way to peace. It will buy friendship and gratitude. Just look at our grateful friend, Osama Bin Laden. Oh wait...

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Matt Fite, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:28:23 GMT

This kind of hate propaganda is everywhere! Hate is not something we teach our children. When is all this pain and suffering going to end? Islam is not superior to other religions. All races and all religions are equal. The human race needs to make love and not war. War only brings pain and suffering. We need to heal the world and put an end to all hate and live in peace.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Sue - Pittsburgh PA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:28:34 GMT

The children are always lost. And all over the world children are not at important as they were at one time. Parents have not taught them to fear God and most of then do not fear death. When I was young I wanted to live long because my life was calm and we had many things to do socially. Very few of us had cars and all the neighbors watched you. Now children only see violence and death at every turn. They do not know how to respect thenselves or others and when drugs or jihad is offered to then for them this is the height of excitement. I truly hope we can find ourselves again in the good graces of God.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Alan Molin, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:28:56 GMT

I hope the FBI is reading this blog and finds this "school" of jihad and destroys it.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Joe Hrdlicka — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:29:39 GMT

possiably influnce from the american way. parents better not say their naughty, or dad even think of putting son over his knee, you can guess what happens then, blame the kids hell you should be pointing the finger @ the alduts. its the truth

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Hal Guernsey, Wichita, KS — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:31:34 GMT

All madrassas promoting suicide and murder, under the deceitful guise of "Jihad" should be bulldozed.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

nick alexander, elizabeth town , north carolina — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:31:47 GMT

a clear example of boredom, why aren't we blasting the youth of these muslim countries on the education and treatment of teenagers? i'm always hearing how america is lagging behind and we're evil. here you have to kids who's goal is to be great. No where do they mention doing it for freedom and allah! and someone should track the principal. he's obviously an agent of evil

How two teens were recruited for jihad

john florida — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:33:49 GMT

Choudry Buttar:we have given till it hurts, what happened to the help that has already been given ?The problem is that their religious leaders have robbed these kids of their child hoods in favor of their power grab. They have united their young by giving them a common enemy real or immagined. The enemy is all non muslim people all this to gain power for the religion of peace, it would be the religion of peace if they would stop killing. They are a great people with a history of devotion and great advancements in history. But for their people to have everything they want it is time for them to stand up and say enough we have been doing it according to what the religious leaders have said for years and all it has to show for it is DEAD KIDS. Have they no heart ? they seem to be good at sending people to their deaths but run at the first sign that they might be targets. So this becomes a religion of DO WHAT I SAY AND NOT AS I DO. If they were true leaders they would be talking about peace not the jews or the great satan. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar try peace and the help would come from the world. the idea of sending more while they are actively killing is just plain stupid. why would anyone reward that kind of thinking.Yes we are the richest nation in the world because our people are a peace loving, hard working,and the most generous people on earth. But for that we are talked about like we are the criminals responsible for all that is wrong with the world.When will moderate muslims take control of their religion and finaly say "THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE" and get rid of these HATERS that are the only ones who make the news. When will the denomstrations be about saving their kids and not let these idiots kill them. A lot of the blame goes to the parents where the hell are they in all this ? why are they letting their kids fall into the hands of these liars whose only interest is power not islam.They are the ones that should be removed from positions of power. We are who we are because we do not have religion involved in our world policy and the mulla's are a perfect exhample of why. The idea of rewards for bad leadership is nonsense.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Chad, Garland, TX — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:36:05 GMT

Here is a wake up call to all who know nothing of this war. Religious fanatics who are calling for a "Jihad" against our troops and non-muslims are free to reign in places where poverty thrive. These children receive promises of Life after death, money for their families, and there names to be recorded in Muslim history. Wake up AMERICA! Do you think if we pull our troops this will stop on the soil of Afghanistan and Iraq? As Americans we all have short memories. ABC news did a documentary on the suicide bombers and how they were being recruited to fight a holy "Jihad" against their sworn enemy Israel back in the early 90's. Nothing is different. Religious groups backed by fanactics who want to remain in power fund these so-called schools only as a front to find more children who come from poor beginnings to do their deadly bids. This war is a fight for survival for all of us. We must gain knowledge and understanding before the "Jihad" hits us harder than 9/11.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Simon, Toronto, Ontario — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:36:27 GMT

This is an ongoing shame of the worlds leaders of all backgrounds, cultures and societies who do not recognize that youth play such a critical part in where global society is headed. If youth today are being offered no alternative than to join forces with gangs, sects and extremists there will either be no future adults left to lead the world in to the generations to come or those who are left will know nothing other than hate, violence and intolerance.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

roy selby — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:37:48 GMT

Our Democratic congress has passed a resolution to end the war in Iraq. They had to "buy" votes for it's approval by puting in "pork barrel" projects to get some people to sign it. To the tune of 2.2 trillion dollars. Granted, we all could use help, but is it better to maintain our high standards with these "pork barrel" projects or wouldn't it be better to spend this money to help these nations improve their living conditions and give them some hope of a better life? I am sure that 2.2 trillion dollars would go a long way in improving living conditions and give these people some hope of a better life. We sit here with all our "modern" conveniences, running water, electricity, air conditioning, heating and all the "amenities" while most of them over there do not even have a decent roof over their heads, let alone all the rest. Isn't it time to help?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Keith Milliner — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:38:07 GMT

Hey Mike, The teenagers here are spoiled brats with no parental controls, no moral guidance at school and no role models to look up to since role models are Politically Incorrect unless it's Stalin of course, The Reds could not get a vote in the U.S. so they used Left Wing teachers to dumb down the population and make them discontented underachievers. there are still lots of bright, motivated teens here, they belong to educated families though.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Victor, Washington D.C — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:39:18 GMT

I would just like to make a request to people who post in response to such articles. Please make sure you are well aware of the subject and educate yourself before making incorrect statements because that will only spread ignorance and ignorance is the root cause of the majority of the issues we face. I would like to point out specifically what Elaine Connelly said in her response, "Remember this is the religion that says there is no God but Allah, one of the principal tenets of their religion is to KILL ALL NON-BELIEVERS." which is an incorrect statement. Islam does say that there is no God but Allah but it does NOT say any where to "kill all non believers". It tells people to respect other religions and live in harmony. So please verify before you post. That will help all of us in our personal knowledge and growth and help us be better citizens of the world. Thanks.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Stu , Wilmington, North Carolina — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:39:25 GMT

any intervention by us will bring hostility, a live and let live strategy would be best but we all know what we will get from that. i think a bullet to Bin Laden's head as well as all of his advisers is our best course of action. George Bush needs to go ahead and send in a small squad to get this done, most of you hate him anyway, so what has he got to lose. There is no negotiating with these radicals, they want to die so lets help them out.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

AktionT4, Buffalo, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:42:02 GMT

You can't win "Hearts and Minds" of those who place no value on the Western ideals of freedom. Our rallying cry in the Middle East has been to free those under the oppressive regimes of the Taliban and Baathists. If all they know is oppression and balk at the idea of freedom of expression - then they're beyond any sense of "help". Let them solve their own problems by resorting to the savagery they're accustomed to.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jason, San Francisco,CA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:42:41 GMT

This attitude being unhappy, says a great deal about Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or any major Middle East country. The governments should take a major step in educating citizens, but they are afraid of losing power. Same goes for finding employment, oil rich countries should be looking after citizens well being; made a major issue. And stopping this “brain wash” of its youth so as to be productive, live productive lives. Look at all the whole middle east, the Palestinians fight Israel because there are no jobs, the local government is corrupted. Education is what fears middle east the most, its sad but true.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jason Peoria,Illinois — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:43:16 GMT

This is the problem in the middle eastern countries....children are lead into phony beliefs of kill and be a hero to your people and a child has no other way to know what there being taught is to murder for a group of low lifes. I don't hate the muslims but these extremist muslims need to be removed from society cause they take a peaceful religion and twist it to there own likings. They follow a book other then the quran cause religion is peaceful not murderous.....People try and give better lives for middle eastern decendents but theres to much hate against Americans and Britians to see it.....I'm not saying the U.S and Europe haven't done some bad things but the hate outweighs the good were trying to accomplish and until Iraq stands on there own 2 feet and realize this sure there country will be chaos until they see this clearly......Bush is a jackass i agree totally. What the elders of these tribes feel is off years of aggression and changes doesn't come fast and easy but you do have to put effort forthe to get positive results not kill everyone till your satisifed and sons,mothers,fathers,daughters are dead these leaders of these groups ask them why they don't fight and they hide in there caves and fortresses there scared to die or don't want to die they want your children to do the mass murdering for them...they just want folks to fear them cause there no one special.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jim Austin, TX — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:44:25 GMT

We've lost the war on drugs and now we're not winning this war either. Think of all the money we've spent on both - what if we'd spent all that money on building economy and education world wide. Hmmm novel thought. BUT then those funds would have been going to teachers and business builders that would have been part of the "machine" instead of oil companies and arms dealers. What a different world this would be.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Susan Huy, Ephrata, PA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:44:30 GMT

Apparently the human race never learns. Germany's youth turned to Hitler after the country was so impoverished after Brits and the French carried off everything that was not nailed down and completely ruined the economy, so that when the Depression hit, people there were carrying money to buy bread by the wheel barrow. (This is not a Muslim problem..it happens everywhere where people are deprived of one thing..hope for their future) Look at our own gangs and violence. The biggest recruiting ground here in the US for Muslim extremists is now in our own prison system among young blacks. We have the biggest prison population in the world related to overall population..and why...because people here too seek to find a way out through violence. Given the debt that many of our young people will have when they come out of school, given that fewer and fewer will have access to health care here unless they go out and rob a bank..we can expect waves and waves of violence here ourselves...so before we go calling the kettle black, we ought to be looking at what we are doing here at home and the future we are making for our coming generations. Susan Huy, Ephrata, PA

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Charlotte Schweder, Washington — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:47:41 GMT

Let's not forget that everyone needs something to live for. Children, teens and adults need to be part of something and believe in something. Value is found in the true God, 3-in-one, Father Son and Holy Spirit. If our world would live by the Bible, we would not have jihad.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

my onwman — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:47:59 GMT

If only one of them would see that the people that are instructing them to do jihad are well wrong and all they need is to get away from the structer of there religion. Then just maybe they would see the world for what it is and maybe they would kill muslims. Then they can go to heaven or hell and get how ever many virgins in the sky. I cant believe how many people are so weak minded to follow religion.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Chair — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:49:26 GMT

this is such a sad situation, where the boys actually wallow in self pity of sorts and say there's nothing here. well then jihadist classes seek to fill this void in their lives by providing alternatives where they can feel wanted and useful and possibly some measure of feeling great.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

David — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:51:57 GMT

Some of the comments here are constructive but how in the world does retards like NU are able to pass their satan worshipping propanganda? The problem is that the wars they fight is political, religion is only a facade they utilize to gain support. By the way America is only considered an enemy for their support of the Israel's occupation of palestine. If anything else , "Get them electricity, a play station, and some herb"......

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Clark, Omaha, NE — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:54:05 GMT

We can't get the CIA in there to kill these people? Maybe we should start a war of terror on the terrorists?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

doug gast newville pa — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:56:26 GMT

all this hate is religion driven god said this allah said that it is all bs in my opion.people have been killing each other for thousands of years in the name of god why????.they can't think for themselves!!!. they have to follow these old ways.this is how the world is going to end!.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

mohannad — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:56:48 GMT

everyone wrote comments that the boys were brainwashed etc etc and that they went because they have no opportunity for a good life in were they live. why dosent anyone wonder if teh so called propaganda that they are fed or brainwashed by is actually true? i mean just like in america you see how every news station calls the other sides terrorists and barbarians etc what you have to understand is just how convinced you are that you are the good side they too are convinced that they are fighting evil and that they are just. what im trying to say is that imagine al qaeda was to hold sway over much of america dunt you think many of your youths would be tempted to mass murder the al qaeda people? civilians or not most of you know you would.this war is simply 2 opposing view points on life it just depends which part of teh world you were born in.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Lori Davis, New Bern, NC — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:58:43 GMT

People all over the world have been struggling with keeping our children occupied in order to keep them out of mischief. Unfortunately, terrorist groups are targeting the world's children to do their dirty work. Islam may be a peaceful religion, but it is obviously not being taught that side of it to enough people. Jihad is not to be tolerated by any religion and Christians have the power to overcome them. We must fight the fight harder than the Jihad. We have been winning battles against heathens for years. More martyrs for christianity should be in Pakistan and the like.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mark, Fredericton, Canada — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:59:33 GMT

Well you Americans got yourselves into a real problem now don’t you. You rushed into the middle east high and mighty. Trying to instill your beliefs and values. The Arab’s are now united behind a single cause. Destroy America. For those who forget history are doom to repeat it. The people of the middle east have fought for two thousand years and will likely fight for two thousand years more. Is it going to be with America? You will not have peace as long as Islamic extremist still exists in the middle east, and they are everywhere. The reason why there is so many of them is their religious leaders teach that "having" is a sin. Being miserable is righteous and those who don’t follow their ways must be destroyed-"it’s gods will". I don’t want to see the day we in North America live in fear. Someday those nations in the middle east will be powerful(Iran) and they will openly seek to destroy us. I will suggest destroy them first. Leave nothing to chance. I know this sounds bad or maybe down right evil but in the end who will be the last one standing? I hope it’s us!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mel, Seattle — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:00:40 GMT

It's clear from this article that it is not a matter of boys with too much time on their hands. Instead this is how these kids were raised - to defend their religion. In the heart and mind of the TRULY religious, defending it is the ONLY raison d'etre. The US still hasn't learned a thing since 9-11 and Osama - he's tried to give us the message - we just don't want to hear it. That, my friends, is OUR fault - not THEIRS.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Marwa Bollack, Lake Hiawatha, NJ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:00:53 GMT

Elaine Connelly is so wrong in her comment about Islam. It never says anything in the Koran about killing all non believers. Islam is a religion that promotes harmony and peace among all of God's creations. If you don't know anything about the religion, you should keep your mouth shut. Judging an entire world religion over the actions of a select crazy few is ignorant. How would you like the world judging Christianty over the actions of the KKK or Judism over the actions of Kahane Chai.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Patrick Lineman, San Dimas, CA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:00:55 GMT

These privately schooled boys have nothing? The solution to their misconception of having nothing, is killing? Forget logic - it only works with a diciplined mind. There will be a lot of killing before an answer is found, if ever. The ONLY question is "Will Americans choose to die like lambs?"

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Charlotte, Washington — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:00:57 GMT

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dishonorable1 , yourtown, US — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:02:09 GMT

"Not too different from some of the teenagers here in the US who see no future, no opportunity, and no purpose. Just our kids turn to gangs, drugs, and individual suicides rather than jihads, suicides and mass murder." or they join the Military, same difference! (speaking from experience)

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JS, Phoenix, AZ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:03:14 GMT

Many posters here what to do something that will help the boys, to fill the "void" in their lives. But: (1) if we leave them alone, the extremist clerics hate us because we are "excluding" them from joining in the sharing of the world economic engine. (2) if we try to install educational and work opportunities there (like one poster suggested) they will hate us for "westernizing" their sacred land and theology. (3) if we try to go in a route out the extremists so the moderates can live in peace, we are seen as invaders and occupiers, a real juice for hatred of the US.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Fooku — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:03:14 GMT

It is more the reason to be aggressive on this war front, we need to create a larger presence, larger bases, we need to finish this and be firm, the weaker we get, the stonger the enemy gets... this will never end until we finish it....

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Maggie NY NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:03:20 GMT

Let there be peace on earth, a peace that was meant to be, let there be peace on earth, a peace that starts with me..education, we need to teach the rest of the world what it means to be free, in mind, in heart, in body and in soul, we enjoy our freedoms, we dont kill in the name of God or Allah In my heart of hearts as a Mother, Grandmom, Sister and Daughter of Veterns of MY GREAT COUNTRY, The United States of America, I wish other countries would learn from us, instead of hating us.....Dont teach your children to hate, dont teach your family violence, and most of all, and I direct this to the leaders of the Jihad...practice what you preach..if you think suicide bombers are going to be rewarded, why arent you the first in line?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Duke, NYC — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:03:21 GMT

typical Muslims hating the west, what else is new? if they really want to blow themselves up, i'm sure there are a few desolute areas of Pakistan where no one else would get hurt...

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bronson — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:03:33 GMT

A life is a horrible thing to waste.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ben Thomas, St. Louis, MO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:04:09 GMT

They say they have no hope in life where they are, yet they can attend computer, engineering or pre-med classes? Sounds like opportunity to me. The people brainwashing young muslims should be exposed for who they are and what they are doing. This once proud religion is being taken over by a cancer. Until leaders acknowledge and aggressively address this, it will only get worse.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ryan — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:05:18 GMT

It looks like Government of Pakistan is also behind these kind of radical things. First of all the people and government should change.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

T A — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:05:59 GMT

My grandmother used to tell me about growing up poor in rural Alabama. She said they were all poor, but nobody really knew it. They lived their lives, did what needed doing, tended to their families, and never once did they think about doing harm to another human being. Fast forward to 2007 with all the wealth, the instant communication over thousands of miles, the access to information, all great things, and yet these are things that those that are without are willing to kill for, so that those that have more than the clothes on their backs will have nothing. Why is it that the bad drags down the good? Why can the good not pull up the bad?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mike, Stillwater MN — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:07:53 GMT

This is why we can't win. We will never win. The war on Drugs might as well be lumped into the war on Terror. They both have only amounted to even more deaths, and even more fanatical behavior. It's a war against freedom and hope. We fuel thier fire, and give them even less to hope for.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Vladimir Enlow, Nashville, TN — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:08:17 GMT

To those of you who have stated that accepting Jesus, the Bible, etc., will end jihad, let me remind you about the Crusades or the English Civil War, which were essentially Christian versions of the jihad.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

melinda, washington DC — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:09:15 GMT

Hello everyone! Let's wake up a little and educate ourselves please. Allah means God in Arabic. Arab Christians say Allah like the French say Dieu for God. Jihad does not mean HOLY WAR. Holy War is a term strictly from the Crusader era. Jihad literally means "effort". So we are engaging in Jihad in this discussion in order to understand whats going on. Parents engage in Jihad everyday with their kids in their effort to raise and educate them. And as mentioned earlier, Pakistan is not an Arab or Middle Eastern country just as Afghanistan and Iran are not as well. Islam is practiced by about one sixth of the ENTIRE world's population and the "terrorists" we are talking about are about .0000001 percent of this number. Just like the illusion of increased shark attacks is initiated by the media, so too is this. We can't deny that terrorism is happening in the world and tragically in America....but this utter lack of knowledge for a religion that DIRECTLY stems from Judaism and Christianity is an embarassment for us Americans. All religions have massacred and ravaged nations in the name of their religions and Christianity was the most brutal (if you want to be technical) so obviously if this is going on there must be a problem. Socio-economic, political, cultural, oh and that little word called OIL. The preminent lack of resources has caused almost every conflict in every civilization since the beginning of time....read your history.......

How two teens were recruited for jihad

AMINA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:16:38 GMT

GOOD DAY.I THINK PPLE SHOULD TRY TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE RELIGION OF ISLAM B4 MAKING COMMENTS.DONT JUDGE PPLE BASED ON RELIGION BUT BASED ON THEIR PERSON.I KNOW THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THERE IS NO RELIGION ON EARTH THAT PROMOTES VIOLENCE.SO WE SHOULD ALWAYS TRY TO BE OBJECTIVE AND HEAR BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WESTERN MEDIA HAS NOT HELPED THE IMAGE OF ISLAM AT ALL SINCE 9/11. THANK YOU.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jake Corbet — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:16:40 GMT

This really is no different from any other country including the United States. The various "class" structure and self absorbancy in the US creates the same situations. It really is about creating and preparing the next generation to succeed and continue. It really is sad...there is so much potential world wide for "total global" success. But greed seems to rule. There is no reason why every individual in the world shouldn't have purpose, a sense of accomplishment and feel like they contribute to a global success. Pathetic world we live in...very sad.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

doe — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:17:29 GMT

I think it is sad that many of the responses here mirror the same sentiments that the jihadists have. Some responses state that the world would be a better place if all followed the teachings of the Bible. Compare this with the jihadists and radical Islamists who believe the exact same thing expect that we should all live by the Qur'an. Responses advocate that we should bulldoze madrassas (filled with young children, mind you) because it will some how stop jihad. This belief is shared by terrorists that attack and attempt to ruin the infrastructure of America and American interests abroad because they believe that this will some stop whatever wrong-doings America has done. All of this only proves that the "war against terror" will never end because there is so much ignorance and hatred on both sides.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Spanky — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:18:02 GMT

Is it me or does each religion go through a phase of "kill the non-belivers"? I see alot of people talking about following the Bible... Does anyone remember The Crusades?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Saurin, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:18:41 GMT

The religious leaders of the world have to come togather to decide a 'common religious code' CRC which is harmonious for the world to exist peacefully. Then it has to be propogated aggressively until terrorists as defined by the CRC become outlaws in the eyes of all religion. Then it would be very hard to recruit people in the name of religion. It may take a generation or two, but thats what the world needs to focus on, and we are looking at our political leaders to start that dialogue with the religious leaders. There will be repercussions, expect a few religious leaders to be blown up, murdered for their participation, but they would have died for a noble and 'religious' cause. The next parallel path to follow would be the social and economic upbringing of people along with institutionalizing the CRC code. If this is started today, 30 years down the line, I am sure we can get rid of 'Terrorism support' that most underpriviliged and disllusioned people are providing the terrorist. Military action while absolutely necessarily for immediate effect, is however not enough for the long term. This CANCER has to be fought on all fronts and that cannot leave out the Religious Front. There should be a World Religion Organization WRO which has to make mandatory every state and religion to participate. The state that does not, has to be looked as a direct enemy of the world.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dave, FL — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:19:09 GMT

Isn’t it amazing the wealth that is in the Middle East yet they have nothing. The select few live in luxury while the majority live in poverty. These so called wealthy religious fanatics need to take some of the millions they spend on themselves and spread the wealth to there own citizens. Maybe by showing kindness by example will provide these youths with a sense of purpose. It makes me sick to think that these societies have reached the point that killing innocent people gives them some type of purpose. It is not AMERICAS responsibility to reach out to these people it is the governments of these countries to provide for there people. How hard is that to understand? With that said if the religious fanatics want to start the WAR then I will say it will be AMERICA who ends it. It's a great feeling to be an American but I also know what American citizens and military men and women had to give up for me to have the freedom I have in this country and for them I have to say thank you and GOD Bless.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Alan New York, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:19:26 GMT

Victor, I agree. People should know something about the subject, but most of all the geographical location of the country. Pakistan is not part of Middle East, but part of South Asia. People talk about Islam and how evil it is, promoting killing of non believers and such....hmmm...eye for an eye is what? Not promoting killing. Islam is going through what Christianity went through few centuries ago, only difference now is the media power to promote what they want us to feel. They let us see what they want us to see, so we don't know any better. Qur'an does not teach hate or killings, and those of you who think otherwise should probably read it. Because of the ignorance of few, many will suffer. Lots of americans look at everyone with Olive skin as a terrorist.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Sean Reed, Niagara Falls, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:23:04 GMT

It's about time that we start addressing the underlying problems, only then that we can bring about real change. It is human nature to seek purpose in life, something to persue with heartfelt passion and commitment which lends meaning. It is easy to be misguided when options are few (or appear to be). What is needed in radical Islam is the same thing needed in the drug infested, gang prevalent areas within our cities. Options, encouragement, personal involvement, and genuine interest from those who are good examples. These things are essential to the development of young minds, as the values they learn now are likely to remain with them for a lifetime, reinforced and growing in intensity with each success or achievement over the years. The meaning of "success" or "greatness" to an individual is defined by these values. Imagine what Einstein, or Bill Gates could have contributed to a "Jihad" if that were where their passions laid. Thankfully, they were not guided by the misguided, and have made substantial contribution their perspective passions. Its only a matter of time before one of the great minds of our era is raised on the other side of the fence unless we reach the root of the problem in time...

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Vinod Malaikal, East Greenwich, RI — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:29:19 GMT

I think you are making a fallacious argument about SUVs and terrorism. Oil is not creating terrorists. Most of the entire world, including the Middleeastern Asians are on an oil economy. Unfortunatley, it is despotitic, and sexually and financially corrupt leaders in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt who are doing this "brainwashing" of their youth. While I agree that there are many "sheeple"-like teenagers in this country, there are even more, per capita, in these backward societies. While Middle-east Asia does not include Pakistan, South Asia does include Pakistan, and the Northwest Frontier Provinces that have now become the new epicenter of Taliban terror and Al-Quaeda Wahabbist jihadist recruitment. So for the commentator who is so smug to think that just because a commentator said that Pakistan was part of the Middle East, it does make that person wrong, but only because they did not specify the correct part of Asia. Of course, the Iranians still think of themselves and their Persian Aryan elitist ways as being European more than Asian. Yes, the Aryan thinking came from Persia/Central Asia down to the Mogul conquerers of India.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jason Luedeman, Buffalo NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:31:31 GMT

Jennifer from St. Louis...Yes, I have and here's two other things, I'm an Army vetern as well as a practicing Muslim and I know from which I speak firsthand. The majority of extremists who run around preaching 'jihad this' and 'infidel that' are predominantly Wahabists(aka Islamists)which is an ultraditionalist sect of Islam and these are the ones who preach their own twisted version of jihad. Jihad actually means to struggle and persevere, NOT holy war. True Islam doesn't preach these things. Murder and suicide for that matter are considered the most greivious of sins in any major religion and that does include Islam. I am an American Muslim and proud of it and reading and hearing these things is distressing to say the least. Not every Muslim out there follows their line of thinking, nor do they want to 'convert the infidels'...the majority just want to live their lives in peace and not have to deal with being compared to people that preach hatred and violence.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dan Joe, Columbia, MO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:32:11 GMT

Most of the comments on this blog are aparently written by people who haven't paid attention to the story, or make the same kind of mistakes they claim to find in the boys' thinking, in their families, society or religion. The fact is these are teenage boys, just like teens in the USA and anywhere: without something constructive to do they will do anything. They are surrounded by a worldwide culture that emphasizes fame ("great[ness]"), and what young person doesn't dream about being "great"? They did what they thought would make their lives better--can we really fault them for that? The fact is their choices are SEVERELY limited--by poverty, by social forces, by hopelessness, by lack of real alternatives. At 17, they can't really be expected to create out of nothing the alternatives we would hope for them. It therefore behooves us to create those opportunities ourselves. That can't be done with guns and bombs, or with the kind of diplomacy that seeks only a narrowly-defined American interest. "Honey attracts more flies than vinegar." We've got to stop splashing vinegar around the world and begin to spread some of the honey that people really want and need. (And don't give me that useless retort about "flies being great if you're a frog"--we're talking about giving people a reason to believe the USA is a friend rather than a foe.)

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JC, Portland, OR — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:32:46 GMT

The idea discussed in this article is practically identical to the movie Syriana. These religious cults pray on poor male youths who have nothing by making them believe paradise will be theirs. The movie also discusses how these terrorists beleive there should be no seperation between Religion and State. There is no way to stop this. The best you can do is try to minimize it through education. The violence between religions will NEVER come to an end. This been happening for thousands of years and WILL continue until the end of time.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Joe Thomas, Chicago, IL — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:38:30 GMT

What about our USA inner cities, SUV rollovers and drunk driving killings? Why don't we spend as much time talking about them? More Americans die in our inner cities and SUV rollovers than all our Mid-East conflicts, SE Asia and World Wars combined.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Oldfarte, Somewhere, Oregon — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:42:18 GMT

Altho' their approaches are distinctly different, both "Starting to Understand" and "Joe Blow" both have reached the correct conclusion. Islam, strictly practiced, is a religion of denial - a good book to read is "Sleeping with the Enemy" - take away enough and the only outlet left is Islam, esp. militant Islam. Then, the self-denial (and the impoverishment which follows) which Islam imposes can be used to engender hatred of the "haves" of the world, creating a cult of envy, which can be further exploited. The notion that we could win the war for the hearts and minds of would-be jihadists and suicide bombers by air-dropping a bunch of video games is not as absurd as it sounds. I would argue that blue jeans and rock music, as much as "Star Wars", won the Cold War and a similar blitz of American material culture could undermine Islamist radicalism, too. Why do you think the jihadists are so draconian in their suppression of music and dance and any of the other outlets for teenage angst and boredom? Why do you think that the West, and America in particular, are so detested? Let's face it, Western freedom and material wealth and sociability are seductive. Start beaming MTV in Arabic and Farsi and Pushtun. Send video games. Set up a "Radio Free Arabia". Inundate 'em with "Victoria Secrets" and "Sharper Image" catalogues. That, more than anything, is what the jihadists fear, proof that their way is not the best. As for those who insist on the essentially "peaceful" nature of Islam, I would commend you to www.jihadwatch.com. There are plenty of books out there, too. Educate yourselves. This is an enemy which will have to be dealt with and the fight, which has already lasted 1,400 years, will last that much longer because Islam allows all other religions only three choices: conversion, submission, or death. That is in the Koran, folks. It wasn't invented by Zionists and racists.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Lynn McConnell, Topeka, Kansas — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:43:22 GMT

Since I was a child, there has been conflict after conflict within the world. When I was young, it was South America, El Salvador, Cuba. Today it's the Middle East. We have not created any new problems nor have we developed better answers. The world has gotten smaller with the electronic age of technology and what we see and hear in the news has always been going on since mankind was able to crawl out of the evolutionary mud and claim the world his. As long as the international community continues to blame each other for why we are in this terrorist nutty world we have developed today and refuses to aide in dollars, people and training for those less fortunate to learn to help themselves, life we know will only get more dangerous and people will look to extreme radical associations to fill the void in their lives. What we should be teaching is values of life, sharing and caring for life. The United States is the most giving nation. Problem I see is that we just cannot take care of the world on our paychecks alone. This is the only planet we have and since God assigned us the caretakers regardless of what Bible, Koran, etc. you read, I think this saying says it best "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". - Loa Tzu

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Obaid Syed, Houston, TX — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:44:21 GMT

In my opinion, the billions of dollars that are spent on the war could be spent on educating these teens and providing them opportunities to win their hearts instead of their hatred.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Geoffrey Muller, San Francisco, Ca — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:46:25 GMT

Just as the madrassa in Muridke uses propaganda (cricket, swimming pools, horses, honor, power) to lure young people to join their "jihad", it is these same people who manipulate the message coming out of Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. We are then the one's who buy it. Our ignorance of Islam enables them to be effective, and we give in because we are afraid of offending or looking like the opressor or the manipulator. Who is playing who? It is these same radical people you see in front of the news cameras.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Unown — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:46:57 GMT

Islam's basic tenetsar :-Belief in Allah, Prayers, Fasting, Charity and if able Pilgrimage certainly not to kill Non-muslims. We kill Non-Muslims only when they FIRST kill us. Thats the basic thing i think. AND also the Middle-easterners are not illetrate people, Women there are treated like Queens of the house. The males of the house have to look after them. this isnt oppression.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

edwin,ky — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:46:58 GMT

When I was in Bagdad we caputed one of these bombers and he was so high on heroin he could bearly walk. Two weeks later we lost a medic from a suicide car bomber while he was helping small children (15 killed all muslims)they are not honorably or brave. Its to easy to convince a teenager to committe suicide. The only thing evil needs to suceed is for good men to due nothing. support the troops and let them take the fight to the enemy

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Lester Rowe Niagara Falls New York — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:48:26 GMT

It's not different than having America gang of thugs coming into a high school and recriting kids to kill others in far off lands. It is both stupid. I can't think of one reason why anyone should have to die. If you say that bombing of those buildings in New York is a reason, well one must ask why did they feel it neccesary to do it. Maybe because we may have killed plenty of them in the passed and they wanted revenge, just like now American say they want revege. And now we are an enviroment that more young people will want to seek revenge, where soes it stop.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Sonia, NY, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:49:05 GMT

Although it is typical to see the usually anti-Islam tirades from the uneducated masses, it is very refreshing to see ppl who have actually taken the time to research the religion and realize that it only preaches peace. The crimes you happening in the world in the name of Islam/Jihad represent the .000000001 percent of the Muslim population who should be rooted out and executed Shariah style for disgracing such a beautiful religion and its message. This goes double for those Muslim continues who pretend to run the country per the word of the Quran, but manipulate the teachings to serve their own chauvinistic needs. I mean come on, Prophet Muhammed's wife was one of the most successful business woman of her time with lots of wealth and land and the Prophet supported her. Of course the tribal men of all these middle-eastern countries would be scared that a woman could perform as well, if not better, than them so why would they want to promote the truth?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

BillyFromPhilly, Philadelphia, PA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:50:48 GMT

I just enlisted as a United States Marine, this might be my future enemy, but its unethical how islamic extremists brain wash their young because Islam is in all honesty a very peaceful religion when its texts are not twisted into lies that the extremists preach.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

doug newville pa — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:50:55 GMT

hey mark of canada,what would your country do if they blew up your twin towers?.oh i know france would ask for U.S.help. the U.S. WILL HELP ANYONE IN NEED GOOD OR BAD!.yea we are powerfull and we are good people.you are right we are in a mess and who stands behide us now?!!!!!!!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dan Hart — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:52:17 GMT

This is just another example of the result of religeous indoctrination. This is no different than religeous schools in the US and everywhere else in the world including Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and Mormons that dole out dogma derived and reinterpreted from mostly centuries-old texts. The history of mankind is bloodied by fights between religeous groups. Without religeon, 911 would never have happened.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

John, Lancaster, PA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:53:27 GMT

For these boys to say I have nothing is a lie, because if they have a promise of a reward in the after-life, then they have something. To murder others to obtain something, in this life or the next is selfish and wrong. We all have people around us who we disagree with for one thing or another. The wise person is the one who respects others' property, person, opinions, etc. while maintaning his/her own beliefs. These boys, like many of us, need to look deep into their hearts and understand why they want to hurt others for their own benefit. We all need to help each other, and stick together doing it, showing the out-siders a community together is strong. The feelings of hate and anger, just like the feelings of love and peace, can be over-come by dwelling on the opposite. We can't make decisions based on feelings that can change,like these boys' feelings of hopelessness. If they know and see that others care about them, their future, and their families, then they will choose to do the right thing, and so will we. The government there should see that their people have the opportunity to spread the care. So govenments such as the US should within every reasonable effort support and continue to support the future of a caring world society.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Think Different — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:55:43 GMT

Its funny to read that most posts are from the US - where people are as 'brain washed' / ignorant about the rest of the world as the 2 teens in this story. Any average american will ask an Asian if they still use the barter system, do we have electricity, scoff at arranged marriage, etc ..... list can keep going on. There is no difference between the 2 teens and some of the leaders who claimed to save the world from WMD. Since the west controls the media the teens are called jihads - but when Mr. Bush / Mr. Blair send their troops to avenge the defeat of Mr.Bush Sr. its called striving for a safer world. In my opinin neither one is correct - Jihad is not good and neither is world dominance.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Sibyl, San Jose, CA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:55:50 GMT

like all young people they just want to feel inspired, alive, doing great things, putting their hearts into their life and work - there's a great opportunity here - for business and organizations to provide worthwhile projects and caring leaders - environmental, caring for others, creative, world projects that ignites the heart in creative, constructive, meaningful ways

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bmette — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:56:59 GMT

Since Muslims the world over seem to thinmk that they alone are the adherents of true morality, I must ask a few questions regarding the morality of these young would-be jihadis, their respective families, and their communities. What moral standards has Islam taught them during their religious upbringing?? From whom have they learned mortality during their religious upbringing?? Is Muslim morality dedicated solely to the trivial outward demonstrations of devotion that we see so often on TV? If Islam is so dedicated to peace and brotherhood, etc etc etc (blah blah blah), then why are its real-world actions so violent, so intolerant, and so dysfunctional?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Michael, Palm Coast Florida — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:57:18 GMT

I have read many of the comments submitted and have to laugh. We can sit hear all day and debate about if the war is right or wrong (either way, one should support their country and brave men and women of our military) or compare America's teenagers to Middle Eastern teenagers. Let's stick with the point of the story. These two teenagers were recruited by radical terrorists who have been groomed from infancy to hate America and the West. It is the goal of these "terrorists" to eliminate anyone who does not conform to their way of thinking and have global domination. If you can't see the similarities between the Middle East and Hitler's Third Reich you better get your head out of the sand. As far as diplomacy goes, you are not going to sit and have an open dialect with a culture that openly expresses extermination of another race. This is a serious problem that has to be addressed immediately!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

drewb — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:01:32 GMT

We had two teenage boys decide that life sucked and they wanted to kill lots of people their names were Dylan, and Eric. Everyone makes foolish choices in their youth it's just the extremity of the choice. I wish good and evil were always black and white, but it is not always that way. If our military presence in other less developed countries like iraq stirs the hearts of the easily impressionable to want to kill, then so be it. We have held our doors open to many an immigrant in the past who have been given a second chance, by being able to escape the evils/horrors of their country. We have lost many good men fighting wars for weaker countries like: Bosnia,Somalia, Iraq, and others. We have been repaid by hatred etc... I say we take the next five years after we are out of Iraq, and Afghanistan and work on the problems in this country. Would we still be hated by some? Yes. We need to have a period of peace this country has been through alot since 9/11, and we have gotten our revenge/justice for now, so let's try to put out this fire and not stoke the flames anymore.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bruce, Shelby, North Carolina — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:03:17 GMT

Send them video games.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bob Tepper — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:03:39 GMT

Being brought up under our federal welfare system in the low rent housing projects of N.Y.C. I can only state where there is life there is hope. One must be shown the beauty and sounds of Nature, responsibility, the joy of learning the creative arts and acknowledge one person can always make a difference hopefully for the better and what true love is. Once one is exposed to fear or experiences of ill health or the horrors of cruelty towards each other. One should never give up hope. It's up to each individual wherever possible to stand up to injustice and ignorance. "Know Thyself" (mind and body) certainly not new and always try to lift others to realistic goals by appreciating what they do have. Life and good health are ones greatest assets. One must be shown how not to desecrate this great gift.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

ronald — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:04:04 GMT

I would like to say that no one really knows why people do the things they do there must be a reason. In our religion which is constantly changing to accomodate the times no one here are dying for their God.And when you really come to think of it shouldn't you want to die for your God with all due respect.Since i was a young man i was shown people with beards and head pieces and told beware they'll slit your throat . Why must the fear be put into so many people to the point hatred breeds 1000000fold if some country came over here and started killing people i would hate them and want to kill them when you lose a family to a bomb or a father who was a good man what are you suppose to forgive and love the party is this right in this country for instance we have big drug companies drugs come across the border by the ton there are millions homeless they feed you drugs and arrest you they take your job and then take your home they make you fat and make money off you half of the foods contain an addicting nicotene caffeine and cancer causing chemical and in general the food we eat is poisoned to make us sick so the over and under the counter drug companies can get us better and the list go's on forever we are the expendible crop that feeds the big machine and worship sports stars and singers before our God and to tell the truth about the matter that homeland security is in place not only for what some believe what is happening abroad but for what could be organized here by the Americans who are taught to be in constant turmoil with people that don't even have an effect on their lives as a blindside .So i must say i would never want to see innocent good people die violently but really who cares if someone organizes some plot to do damage that will affect the huge corporates who sit at the top because quite possibly they may deserve it.Let their punishment fit their crime and we all know that plenty of women mothers children die in attacks every day and all we can say is that war is war these things happen until maybe it happens to us .Thats when we change our point of view.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bill — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:04:11 GMT

Jeez. recruiting teenagers to sacrifice their lives in order to satisfy a larger political agenda. Nothing like the $1 billion dollars the US spends on marketing our armed forces to our teenagers. No paralells here.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

R.L. Williams Riverton, Utah — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:06:20 GMT

If these young fools want to do something great,comit suiside at the school that teaches this nonsense.Maybe if they blow up the school we'd have a lot less inocent people dying in the world.What would Alah do if he didn't have anymore fools like these two? Maybe the world would be peaceful.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

name name, Albany, New York — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:06:42 GMT

Jihad is not justice nor is it mean to kill people in the name of that justice. It is a priviledge to defend your loved ones and to defend only.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Don, Centerville, KS — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:07:45 GMT

We should eleminate the source of these killers. If the source is these institutions, than they should be targeted for distruction. Every time another pops-up, annilate it. Attempt to provide some assistance, & assurance to parents such as these, as well as the decent school master opposed to this perverted, cannibalstic, thawarting of their religion. Much more effort needs to be spent in identifying these recruting locations, shutting them down, & destroying them. If possible kill these boys before they arrive at a target wearing a vest full of TNT. Organized religion has become the most degrading social mental illiness of our time; both here & abroad. After all, it was religuously demented citizens of the US whom were easily decieved by the puppets of Satan to vote in this present Adminstration!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

R.L. Williams Riverton, Utah — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:08:42 GMT

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Steve Petricevic Cleveland Ohio — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:09:07 GMT

This is exactly what the moslems are complaining about. The west(America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, others) sticking our collective noses in there business. The Arab/Israeli conflict is only a small part of the problem. Our support for Israel is obvious because they(Israelis/Jewish) are not the people saying they want to blow up our cities and kill us by the millions. Just something to think about.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:09:48 GMT

The biggest problem that needs to be overcome with these people is that fact that they are very closed minded. We are giving them a chance to wake up and see what a different life would look like. Unfortunately, the life they live is the only life that they have known. Since they were children they've been taught to hate the "west" and their evil ways. If you really take a step back and look at the situations that they are causing, who really is evil? I'm pretty sure God (Allah) did not create us only to blow ourselves to bits in his name. As much as I hate to say it, they have become murdering radicals in the name of God. They have become the true "Infidels" of this world.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Frederick Clark — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:10:00 GMT

If you look closley at every religon in the world, you will find, that every single one of them has the same story. This is the birth, life, and death of a single person. That, to whom the religon refers to as ascending to god, or son of god. Why then can we not listen to this. We all worship god, we just give him diffrent names. Why must certin people sour and twist this to their own perverted need for bloodlust. When i was a kid my dad came home from the war with this to say, we should kill them all and let god sort them out. This was a diffrent war a diffrent time. But this i belive is what the others, the ones who would corrept the muslum religon, are doing to their own country, by attacking others. Even their own people who will not bend to their warped and perveted views, are killed. These are te people we need to protect. The people who have a sound faith, who will not stand for it to be misused, or misquoted by radicals who use it as a reason to do what they want. I say help the folks who want to be rid of the fools making their country a mess. Help them rid their country of the warped and pervited fools that make it the reason we have to be their in the first place. Of course we could just leave and let all the iniceont people get killed, and then wait for them to attack again. It is a sad thing, that the ones who want to do something with their life are in fear to do so from the jihad.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

mike, Phoenix, az — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:10:28 GMT

I think we need to apply the aspects of this problem to our own youth. Years ago, young men knew they would most likely, have to fulfill a military obligation. We all lived our lives knowing this,which in effect, gave us a purpose & shaped our lives. Some of us served, some went to school then served & some were never called. Most of us were better off for it & never took drugs. Many of our kids today have no such obligation & no clear goals. I suggest that all youth be obligated to some kind of government service, be it military or charitable. Any other ideas? I know there's an awful lot of teens roaming the malls at night. Does anyone recall teens shooting up their schools years ago?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

John Erickson, Santiam Canyon — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:11:52 GMT

It's just amazingly stupifying to see what ends a bored mind will go to to get some relief. These peple have incredible wealth in their country, yet instead of exploiting that wealth for the sake of their own people the few who have it hoard it to themselves and let their people waste away. I know it sounds a little commie to say that they should share their incredible fortune, but come on now, how can you possibly equate Jews, Americans and non-muslims with their plight? They must truly still be in the stone age as far as their thought processes are concerned. So you go commie and distribute the wealth, it's a better life than having your youth blow themselves up or fly planes into buildings. And from there, once everybody has something, you can build upon that. It's the religon, ultimately. It truly is the opiate of the people.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jason Perman, seattle, WA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:12:30 GMT

Recruiting teens for jihaad is bad? Try babies for jesus. Thats what people do when they have their babies babtised. Same thing for jews and circumsion, but they can say that is for health reasons. I say that all of the middle-east is messed up, and we should leave everywhere but israel + afganistan

How two teens were recruited for jihad

T G — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:12:32 GMT

Why does everyone say "we" need to give these kids options, as in the US. I am all for helping, but at what point to societies that have a mass of wealth, even if not spead amongst everyone, need to feed off others, where their countries need that time, love, devotion and wealth. We need to fix the US, and let them have their "leaders" and "elders" with all the $$ at least attempt to start to fix theirs. Then we can help when we have shown we can do it at home.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dallas — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:14:19 GMT

This is just more proof that there is less and less hope for humans in this world. Things all over are getting worse and the slide won't stop until a major series of events occur that change everything. It can't be avoided at this point.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Javier Suniga,Oceanside, CA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:16:48 GMT

Maybe it is our job as parents to lead by example and not expect some worthless no value people to raise our children. Let them know that it is not right what they see on TV. Live our lives the way we tell them to live theirs. Quit blaming someone else and get involved. There are many of us who came from little and are successful.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Concerned with my country — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:16:59 GMT

Really people this thing with hating Americans is much bigger than just the middle east, alot of our own allies seem to work against us when we really need them. We the USA are considered the big kid on the block with everything going for us, its jealousy thats the root of all this. We have countries crossing our boarders to kill us with airplanes and what ever else they can and countries crossing our boarders stealing resources, in many forms goverment aid, services, jobs and it goes on and on. Money is not the answer they will just use it against us and demand more until our goverment or we the people have nothing left to give. We need to fix us first, if we would just worry about ourselves we would have plenty to worry about. OK, it may not be that black and white, but at least we should talk about it.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Gary Gill, Fairfax, VA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:17:14 GMT

Its a little late but wouldnt you think that the Billions of dollars spent in bombs would have been better spent in kindness? Granted there is never a complete solution to fanaticism but it may have been a better alternative.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

beto san antonio tx — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:17:25 GMT

I wonder who will will fill the hole when america pulls out? Jihad with the way these kids sound but nobody cares about tomorrow.Same mistake different generation.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ellie, Las Vegas, NV — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:19:17 GMT

Middle East oil rich countries have the greatest disparity between the haves and the dirt poors because I cannot even calle them the have-nots. They should concentrate on using all that money to institute programs to make a better life for their countrymen, and since they have no respect for their countrymen who do not share their religious beliefs, at least for their fellow believers. Case in point and I never mentioned this to other than immediate family, why was there so much devastation in the Muslim areas devastated by the typhoon of Dec 26th.? Why don't these people of muslim faith live in "normal" homes? Why is there so much poverty in Muslim countries? Why don't their super rich donate from their wealth to help those who need it the most?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ben, Seattle, WA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:19:42 GMT

It's Karma. What goes around comes around. Do nothing and the world will heal by itself.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Phil Pyzyna, Rock Springs, WY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:20:17 GMT

I wonder if the recruits ever ask their instructors, that if suicide bombing is such a rewarding act, why they don't lead by example. I don't suppose they are shown photos of the body parts and heads of suicide bombers laying in the street.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Stuart Sharp, Canton, TX — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:21:20 GMT

Wake up, world!!! Nobody cares what we think here, sitting in our heated homes with food in the pantry... Terror is born out of total hopelessness, only by providing REAL hope of an improved life can we change the path of any group of people. It is the ultimate of arrogance for us to ask them to not do to their oppresors what we did to ours (read the history of the Revolutionary War). I do not support terrorism in any form or fashion, but I do know that it won't be cured with more bullets, either. It is time to take the path of faith, (ours, not theirs) and provide true aid instead of propping up "sympathetic" regimes. It takes more courage to help than to kill... think about it. We could afford to not care or put the burden back on the desperate years ago, when great expense and time was required for them to strike us here. Now a plane ticket and less than 48 hours away, we darn well better learn to start paying attention to someone else's point of view for a change.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

RB, Nashville, TN — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:22:27 GMT

I am sick of people coming on message boards such as this and saying we need to "Understand Islam." What I understand is there are fanatics teaching CHILDREN that it is honorable to commit mass murder. All you liberal wimps out there will sing a different tune when the next major terrorist attack occurs on American soil. And make no mistake, it will happen. Very probably even worse than 9-11.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Kevin DeWayne — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:25:56 GMT

I think most of this "sickness" comes from the basic lack of education. Thesse kids aren't really taught anything other than reading, writing, basic math and the KORAN. Free thinking is lacking and their lack of quality education only adds to their miserable existence. Day after day they are pounded with Islamic fundamentalism and dying for Allah. Instead of being told to improve their lives through hard work and fortitude, they're told that death and 75 virgins is a much better approach to their misery. Great leadership there, great role models. ;-(

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dennis Grimland, Lorena, Texas — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:28:12 GMT

Idiots everywhere! This is in response to uniformed idiots like Spanky & Vladimir Enlow. They claim that Christianity is no better than Islamic jihadists by bringing up the Christian Crusades. Beginning in 632AD & continuing through 1095 AD, Islamic invaders had invaded Christian & Jewish lands of the Middle East. Islamists invaded northern Africa, southern Europe & Turkey. During the 2nd Islamic siege of Constantinople in 1095AD, the Christian Prince sent out a plea for help to Rome. It was at this time that the Pope ordered the first Christian Crusade. So after 463 years of Islamic imperialism, the Christian Crusades tried to "reclaim" former Christian & Jewish lands. Know your history.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bob S, N. Reading, MA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:28:48 GMT

Think what a wonderful world this would be if the Muslims used all their energy, money and influence to spread peace and love rather than hatred and murder.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Religion...who cares — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:29:20 GMT

If it is a war of terrorism, than let there be war! As Napoleon said: "If you start to take Vienna -TAKE VIENNA!" If you decide to let loose the dogs of war do not expect to hold the leash. Carpet bomb, shoot kill, destroy, maim, extract all possible jot and tittle of resistance that the enemy can muster. Then take their children and indoctrinate them the way you wish. Erase what you think is the root cause of their intransigence to your will. In other words, wipe them from the face of the Earth! The decision for war is all or nothing. Black or white. On or off. Which is why such GREAT care and deliberation must be given to this prospect. Something that our leaders - those in Congress and the President - did not do before assigning us to a quagmire in Iraq. War is a terrible option that some nowadays feel can be doled out in small bits and one wonders if our leaders would be so willing to place the children of those they represent in harms way, if their own children were slated to go to these front lines. Fighting deeply seated ideals with bombs, tanks and infantry is only wasteful - our current situation proves it. Unless we are committed to unleash our collective military might without reservation, then we must fight ideas with ideas, seek common ground between our peoples, belittle and marginate those spouting hate and stand shoulder to shoulder with others willing to stand up to those of our race seeking to subjugate and dominate others through coercion, greed and force.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mike, Madison, WI — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:29:56 GMT

There will never be peace in the Middle East until parents love their children.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Carrie, Plano TX — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:30:03 GMT

Spoiled rotten little brats from wealthy families, who’s goal is to grow up to be a gutless, spineless, weak and cowardly suicide bomber. When did it become the USA’s responsibility to “fix” the rest of the world? Their problems are not our problems, ESPECIALLY when they promote HATE!! Time to take responsibility for your country and yourself!!!! We are wealthy…….. We Work!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

AL-HAJJI SEIFUDDIN NA'EEM AKRAM — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:30:52 GMT

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE ENTIRE AMERICAN PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE MORE TIME TO READ THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSLIM JOURNAL NEWSPAPER. YOU WILL FIND REAL HUMAN CLEARITY OF AL-ISLAM. RESEARCH AND READ PAGE SEVENTEEN OF IMAM W DEEN MOHAMMED ARTICLES. THANK YOU

How two teens were recruited for jihad

wasmis — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:31:59 GMT

I have read the comments. I agree...if being a martyr to Jihad is such a worthy cause, why are the leaders still here? What value do these violent hungry people place on young children? To blow them up in a car while they run to safety. They use children to further a cause, because adults know better! Children are impressionable. A lot of teens feel hopeless, lost, unfulfilled. Education is the key, but value systems instilled early are also important and will guide decisions so one can navigate through all the negativity of youth. I remember my "o woe is me" youth. If the parents want their children to excel, they will be close with them. The male cultural ideas, seem to me to be so dominate that even the young males don't seem to value their families, parents and mothers. There is not a sense of "family", to not harm...do not forsake our values...etc., then they "run away" to the Jihadist schools. I believe the big breakdown in any society is when the family unit is the least valued. That is where the sense of self comes from...a place of value in the family...to be needed and to realize you are an integral part of the bigger picture..to add..not detract from this society. Youth, in the past, had chores and doing those chores could make or break the family...now, there is so much slack time...boys need a quest, a purpose, something to discover, to conquer. I dare say pitching hay, tending to broken fences, tending to livestock kept boys plenty busy....and too tired to find groups to join. The modern "city", the quest for better life...only school focus...leaves boys with an energy unfulfilled..therefore, making them susceptible to propaganda that they will become great...quick....and will fulfill their dreams at once. As far a religions being the curse of mankind, I agree. I am a person of faith in the person of Jesus. I believe religious dogma can cause irreputable harm. The most that Jesus taught is ....love God...love each other as God loves us. He said this is the law and the prophets...it really is that simple. One rabbi was asked (as the story goes)..that he should teach a man the Koran while the man stands on one foot. The rabbi said the same thing....he said the rest was commentary. I wonder where Islam stands on this? I read people who studied Islam and say there is violence in it...others say Islam is a peaceful religion...seems there is confusion there...and we all know who the author of confusion is. I don't believe America is the cause of any of the world's problems...I believe people who have AGENDAS are the problems. People will always have power, pride and greed at the base of all troubles. This is life on this Earth. We will all be off the planet some time. I wonder what we will do with the life given us here ...man is appointed once to live..then the judgement. Be at peace with one another...at least in your space...each one reach one.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Christian — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:33:37 GMT

JIHADI RECRUITERS NO DIFFERENT THAN US ARMY RECRUITERS. BOTH USE DECEPTION TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN GOALS TO FIGHT ILLEGAL WARS, PROMISING BETTER LIVES FOR THE KILLERS WHETHER IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mike Laurel, MD — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:36:12 GMT

People, before you tell others that the Quaran doesn't teach hate or to murder non-believers perhaps you should go read it yourselves. There are many passages with particularly vile rhetoric against Jews, calling them monkeys and sons of monkeys. Last I checked that was considered hate speech. There are also instructions to either make non-believers submit and pay a tax or monetary penalty or face punishment by striking them at the neck with the sword. It further tells how wives should be punished by scourging them, that is to whip them bloody for those who don't know the definition. A lot of Imams will tell you these are mistranslations. I worked with translators who not only spoke, but thought in this language as well as with people native to the middle east. The translations were dead on.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Micah, Utah — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:36:32 GMT

War and other thing of hate in this world are uglyest thing in life. they will need to look at the goal and courge in their life. instead loss hope, thing are kept grow hopeless that they allow most rich or power leader to control them that they cant have or ever will have. NEED Equilty with eveyrone that will make everyone life better but my question will they listen? and they leadership for better life??

How two teens were recruited for jihad

AL-HAJJI SEIFUDDIN NA'EEM AKRAM,TAMPA,FLORIDA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:37:10 GMT

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JS, Phoenix, AZ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:37:29 GMT

Vladamir in Nashville - You need to do further research on the Crusades. The crusades were Europes attempts to defend the Holy Land of Palestine from the invasion of Islam. It was not about forcefully converting anyone. The crusades were largely unsuccessful, with only one battle ever being won. More crusaders lost their lives than muslims. The Spanish Inquisition is another story and clearly a blot on the history of the Catholic Church.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Marc — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:38:01 GMT

Unfortunately this problem has existed for centuries. Only now the world media can and does expose everything. Further said, the media loves bad news. They say it sells better. When i am watching the news at night i am appauled at the sadness. These young men definitely need something to combat this problem and the only place they will find that is in their own home. It is no one elses responsibility but their parents. Just like it is our responsibility to give our kids a chance so they don't get into gangs, etc. We can't solve this problem with money. We can only lead by example and hope the few with enough sense see through the garbage the media shows and try to solve the problem from within. Oh and too the few who say it is religion that has caused so many problems and should be done with. You only know right from wrong because of religion. You only know good from bad because of religion. Unfortunately, in everything there are those who will take advantage of others for their own personal gain. My religion does not teach this, but i know some who have in my religion. Religion, or at least the right Religion is the only hope humanity has to keep good morals, sound judgment, and a correct perspective on life.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Kellie, of Durham, NC — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:38:02 GMT

I was stupid enough to start reading all of these posts and wanting to reply, so here goes: John T Puffer- it's incredibly arrogant of you to assume that this somehow "proves" how "weak-minded" Muslims are. So you would, say, call the Japanese Kamikaze fighters of WWII weak minded? And then you certainly can't say that Christians have never been misled. Elaine Connelly- Please research statements before making them. "Kill all non-Muslims" is not a tenet of Islam. Steve- whwn you say we need to "eliminate all of them", do you really believe we should kill- murder- every man, woman, and child in that part of the world? And then, perhaps, kill all the people offended by that action? Because this violence simply breeds more violence, in an endless and vicious cycle. Even if we say the women and infants are not jihadists and should therefore be spared, do you think we would ever be forgiven for slaughtering every fighting-age male in a culture? And that anger would feed on itself endlessly. Niddy in Philadelphia, PA- thank goodness there are people in this world, like you, who still think. same for Jim Austin of Texas. NU of Greensboro, NC- throughout the course of history and terrorism, I believe Muslims are far outnumbered by, for instance, raiding Vikings, or Europeans coming to the Americas and being responsible for the deaths of millions. Charlotte Schweder of Washington- I don't believe worldwide religious solidarity is possible, and if it were, I would suggest something much less violent than Christianity- Buddhism, perhaps. You have to remember that the New Testament is as responsible for deaths as the Koran- and the Old Testament, I suppose, if you count all of the stonings for adultery and the like. I hope this gets posted- multiple viewpoints really are needed on any subject this controversial.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Heather Czerniak, Milwaukee, WI — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:38:25 GMT

It only goes to show how desperate Islamic extremists are. Now they recruit from the young, impressionable and poor. Instead of teaching them to think for themselves, they brainwash them and sell them the lie of martyrdom by murder. I see a day when all religion will be outlawed for this.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jacob JOZEFS — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:40:24 GMT

On RECRUITING JIHADISTS: The CRUX (Meat or Matter) of these cases [terrorist recruiting of healthy people, including terminally ill prospects. paid or volunteering) comes down to THIS Reality AND Light: You can take someone out of the jungle or mountain or island, And then expect to take that Island, Jungle or Mountain "mentality," no matter where one places them. And of Course, Ignorence, boredom, no education, UnEmployment and not to mention Depression or even Hypnosis is the various culprits at play here, When it comes to doing EVIL Work for UN-HOLY causes. My Mother was roght. STUPID PEOPLE can be hazardous to your health Son, So watch and take care to know who your friends are O.k. O.K. Mom I'll be careful.. And parents cry out "No that is not my Kid..." etc... And Yet it is mostly the parents blaim or doings that, knowing and unknowing, that currupts their kids mines. Ya Ya. It's the parents & their kids friends that make such explosive "Cocktails" G-d Help Us? WRONG! Peace, Love, RocknRoll 7 Spaceforth Activities and Beyond folks. We are in heaven but this place can also be hell, not by G-d but by people "creatures." Ya Ya... :-).

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ali Jarrmon Cincinnati,Ohio — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:41:03 GMT

I'm amazed at the response of Americans. We have more teenage suicde in the U.S. than homicides. These kids are no different than American kids so don't speak ill of them. We American, that claim to follow Jesus but support the war in Iraq. I dont understand the rational of the Americans. God created all humans equal,Black, white, Arab, Jew and if you think your life is worth more than another and that God is okay with you killing other people you are wrong. We know the war is about oil so stop trying to make it about religion. God Bless America and no one else.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Cairo — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:43:06 GMT

USA entered our land, Isreal is not expected to be exists. Do you expect from muslims to be friendly?! welcome Americans and send gifts of Isreal?! Jihad is proposed to kill people, but to defend our lands and our rights. Non-muslims used to live in peace in muslims countries. West (USA) started it all. Isreal is a divel seeded in our land scince 1948. before that, did anyone hear about Isreal?! Those poeple was a trashed people from the whole world. They were treated badly in there countries. Anyway, talking will not solve a problem. God bless those who definds thier lands

How two teens were recruited for jihad

John — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:43:47 GMT

Aren't they doing the same thing we do here? We just call it The Army.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

George Shannon, Petoskey, Michigan — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:44:20 GMT

The eminent French philospher, Blaise Pascal, said it best in one of his thoughts - Man, in his efforts to act like the angels, most often winds up behaving like the beasts. It's too bad that a religion, like Islam, that has many noble qualities and in some ways rivals Christianity, cannot get a handle on its perverse teachings, all in the name of worshipping God.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Joe Phoenix — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:44:57 GMT

At first I was feeling sorry for how bad their lives may be in their home town. However, everyone can direct their life in a postive direction. These guys need to get over the "victim" mentality and make something of their lives. Get over it! Stand up for yourself and make a life. Its a big world and anything is possible. The religious school is the easy way out. Its being a follower. As is all religions.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Tim Taylor, Ontario, Canada — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:45:01 GMT

World politics encompass exceptionally complex issues and problems (I do not profess to be an expert). Every country in the world has its own culture and belief systems. Respect that. Problems occur when one country tries to assert their culture on another. The key to a successful life in any country (in my opinion) is respect, moderation and common sense. The rest is BS.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mitchell Gray, Midland Texas — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:45:13 GMT

Some of these responses are sickening. Blaming boredom and lack of wealth as a justification. These people always understand and accept why someone will kill us. Until America stops all the self-agonizing and introspective non-sense we are doomed in this battle. These are the same people who probably think child sex offenders can be redeemed with counseling and "education." Face it weaklings, evil does exist for the sake of evil. Learn to recognize it and stop excusing or understanding it.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

john florida — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:47:12 GMT

MARK FREDERICTON CANADA:you seem to have forgotten about about 9/11/01. The you Americans you refewr to did not go there to instill beliefs. but we did give them a chance at our values. it is very nice of you to suggest that we destroy the enemy. if you dont have any people in iraq because youre Mr> Martin did not have the nerve to be there. He was content to let us do it for him. But i can tell you this if you think for one minute that you are safe you better think again. You are as big a target as we are. by the way i was in Montreal to attend my uncle's funeral 9/11/01 i grew up in Canada and i left when mailboxes started exploding.If you want an opinion on what we should do in Iraq be there then you can speak.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

ED — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:48:37 GMT

UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL WORKINGS OFF THE HUMAN MIND WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RID THE WORLD OF OF THE HITLERS, HUSSAINS, MANSONS, BUNDYS, AND ANY OTHER MENTALLY ILL INDVIDUALS THAT CAN MANIPULATE PEOPLES BELIEFS FOR THEIR INSANE PURPOSES. FIX THE MIND AND THE BODY WILL FOLLOW.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Christian — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:48:41 GMT

ALTHOUGH CRUSADES WERE STARTED AS RESPONSE TO MUSLIM INVASIONS, THE CRUSADERS LOST ALL CREDIBILITY DUE TO THEIR EXTREME BRUTALITY. AND BY THE WAY THE CRUSADES WERE DONE TO RECLAIM "JEWISH LANDS" CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT JEWS IN EUROPE WERE GIVEN THE OPTION TO CONVERT CHRISTIANITY OR DIE AND THEY AS WELL AS ARAB CHRISTIANS WERE MURDERED BY THE CRUSADERS, REMEMBER THE SACK OF CONSTANTINOPLE WAS DONE BY CATHOLIC CRUSADERS AGAINST EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

fred fink — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:49:16 GMT

Please people stop and think...You are telling these poeple to be civilized, while the US gov't hires kids direct out of high school to fight and kill halfway around the world for lies and more lies. Don't you think US army kills innocent people and terrorizes thousands in Iraq, Afganistan. Just because on this side of the world we do not use suicide bombers, but rather smart bombs and all kinds of other war machinary we are somehow better. Stop kidding your selves!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

SPC John Dorobiala NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:49:34 GMT

I serve in the us army. I am ending my second tour in Iraq. For all you who dont know most of these people live in mud huts. With the exception of the major cities like Basra and Baghdad there is no form of income for these people. They have no runing water food is scarse they wipe their asses with their hands, they have no edgeucation. They dont have the means to make any improvements for them selves. THAT PEOPLE IS WHY WE ARE HERE. We have given them new homes built schools given thousands of iraqis jobs fed them clothed them and tought them skills SO THEY DONT HAVE TO BECOME TERRORISTS....TRY WALKING A MILE IN THEIR SHOES BEFORE YOU JUDGE WHAT THEY DO...We for the most part are born with a golden spoon in our mouths compared to these people.....IF the American people would take their heads outa their a**** and realize whats being done here we could get it done alot faster...with education comes opportunities

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bill, Buffalo, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:49:47 GMT

Islam is peaceful, what a load of crap. If there are truly any "peaceful" or "moderate" believers in Islam then they can also be labled cowards. Because these cowards are the ones who wont stand up to the jihad recruiters and defend their religion. Muslims are full of hatred, because their Allah has not come through for them! But oh look at all the material things those damn Americans have! We should attack them and kill them for all that they have and all that we dont have. What a great philosophy! If the Muslims are really tired of how it is, then perhaps they should join the real world. Let the moderates speak up. Let the moderates denounce these suicide bombers! Let the moderates denounce the killing of Sunni and Shite. But they dont. They are afraid. But what are they afraid of? If they have been good little followers of Islam, then there is nothing to be afraid of; is there? They are afraid, because they know that Islam is a shallow religion, full of hate and blame. It is a weak religion that has to resort to beheadings in order to convince their people to follow the "righteous" path. Anyway, in my book, those that dont speak up against these fanatics are nothing more than sleeper cells, waiting for their opportunity to support an operational terrorist cell. Oh, but I am sure some brave believer in Islam will call me out on this. Then again, maybe not, they are mostly cowards. I only hope that one of these days some Mullah, Malik, Imam or cleric proves me wrong! But as is typical, they won't.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

YANKEE ZEPHYR, OLYMPIA WA. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:50:51 GMT

FAITH IS WHAT GIVES MAN HOPE....RELIGION IS WHAT SEPERARATES MANKIND

How two teens were recruited for jihad

toni — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:50:52 GMT

how ad this world of hate is. People are born into it, thats all they know. There hasnt been peace in then middle east for 2000 years, and there will never be peace there. I fully support or troops, and god bless each and everyone of them, but the questions remains, what are we doing htere now??

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Kim Jones, Orlando, FL — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:51:04 GMT

We spend so much money fighting terrorism, how about we spend just a portion of that money in opening schools and colleges to provide these kids with another option.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Don Sebo — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:53:24 GMT

This is the current and future threat to Western Democracies. The poor and disenfranchised are being taught to hate us because we are evil and non-believers. They are taught that their reward will be in the hereafter and they live such miserable lives that they want to believe it is true. We know there is little we can do in these radical tribal regions in Pakistan and the Pakistani government has little power or influence there. Pakistan, like many other countries in the region, is a breeding ground for corruption, Radical Islam and generations of suicide bombers ready to leave this world hoping for something better in the next.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Darren, Northville, MI — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:53:51 GMT

Now that we know where this school is located; we need to bomb it, level it completely, which we'll do in the silent of night as our B-2 stealth bombers take out the most aggressive of all.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

The True Fact! WV — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:54:30 GMT

It seems all this is simply described with a 4letter word LIFE! We are all victims and yet all perpertators in some fashion. Whether killing someone physically or destroying their soul. The law of nature remains true"the strong will survive" Which I deem as strength of mind, body and soul...

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Michael, Palm Coast Florida — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:54:44 GMT

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Doug — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:54:59 GMT

Vladmin & Spanky ---- pick up a history book and READ IT! Also, Amina read the Koron lately? Islam is not a warm, fluffy and loving your neighbor type of religon.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JS Phoenix, AZ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:55:11 GMT

Kellie of Durham - can you list for me the atrocities done in the name of Christianity or in the name of Jesus Christ in the last 100 years? One? Any Starbucks being blown up by someone shouting "Jesus is Great!" lately? Can we get off the 'Blame the Christian' bandwagon for things done centuries ago? Yes, it is true that centuries ago Christianity went through a growth period that Islam is now going through. So what? That was then, this is now. We have to deal with now. We need to do what we can to get the moderate muslims to stand up against the extremists and start promoting peace.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

keith Milliner, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:55:18 GMT

It is so amusing to see the poor levels of literacy in this supposedly great nation, truth is most Americans are too lazy or undereducated to find the truth, it is much easier to believe and propogate whatever you feel comfortable with. Politicians lie all the time, they know that if you repeat a lie many times it becomes the truth, such as the Crusades were to kill non believers, I thought they were in response to the Muslims attempting to take over the rest of the World. The comment that we cannot win the drug war, well the drug war is all about money, that corrupts up to VP level in lots of places but it's one of those feel good things, I think we should legalise drugs and sell them for 5cents a LB but execute people who sell them to kids. That way we could remove the funding for Islamo and Narco terrorists, empty the prisons in a remarkable time, save billions in Police and Customs time and release all of those officers and resources to combat terrorism. You would also remove children and old people from the menace that drugs and drug money expose them to. How about it? Maybe our own population will take up holy war cos there will be only flipping burgers without drugs.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

jason falls, bangor, maine — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:57:27 GMT

Some of the things people have said on this blog about Islam are simply pathetic.Here's a whole bunch of self-righteous, bigoted, feeble minded individuals who no absolutely nothing outside the world of bill o reilly and rush limbaugh trying to pass judgement on a people who unlike them, still believe in God, morality and the human spirit. These people fear everyone who does'nt conform to their martini-sipping, armani-clad over-medicated reality. They know nothing about everything. Shame on them.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

K.M., Salt Lake City, Utah — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:58:08 GMT

I am appalled at most evrything I've read up to this point. Give more money?, America is corrupt?, We're part of the problem?, etc., etc. The one comment I was looking for, I never saw...Get us out of the U.N. Why should we EVER be governed by someone else's ideals? Why should we ever be concerned with who we are going to offend? If we keep sending money, the more corrupt these people become, because the people who really need it, never see it! The corrupt govenments (the same one's who hate us) keep the money for themselves, and laugh in our face at how stupid we are, to continue to send it! The old phrase, "if there is a will, there is a way" will work throughout any society. One of the most intelligent comments yet, was the one that stated, "the most civilized societies are christian based", couldn't be more true! Societies that are run by tyrant's and dictators, are always going to be able to brainwash their civilians into a certain way of thinking! Throwing excess $$$ at the problem has never, and will never work. Let's spend that money on better intellegience, boarder patrol, and security. With improving these areas, we can be more proactive, rather than reactive to these people who want to kill us. Let's stop being politically correct, by not trying to piss someone off, and go back to "America First" mentality. If they attack us, retaliate immediately! Stop waiting to get approval from the UN or anyone else. Help and protect those, that would help and protect us. The middle east has been screwed up, ever since the Ottoman Empire went away, and will continue to be that way for time and all eternity, until there own society revolts, and changes the way they are being treated and tricked.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jason Luedeman, Buffalo NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:58:41 GMT

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Frank, Baltimore, MD — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:59:20 GMT

Several bloggers have made references to the Crusades and the killings done in the name of Christianity as if these somehow excuse or give cause for the current wave of Islamic Terror spreading like ring-worm around the globe. Everywhere the edge of the Islamic world presses up to non-islamic countries we find Islamic hatred and terror. It is hard to reconcile the fact that the Reformation caused untold misery in Europe, with the killings of Animists in Africa, the wholesale murder and ethnic cleansing in Malaysia, the ritual destruction of non-islamic but prior existing religious groups through-out the "greater -- to head of debate of what is middle east" middle eastern areas. What happened to the great culture of the Original Egyptians? The ancestor worshiping peoples of Malaysia, Indonesia, Jerusalem, Turkey (Byzantium), etc. For those Moslems out there who always reflexively respond to any criticism of any part of their "Islamic" religion with references to bad things that Christians did over 1000 years ago, may I offer this thought! What would you (as a Moslem) do if non-moslem invaders eventually took over Mecca, Medina, and started erecting temples to the sun god RA in each of these locations? What if they forced the consumption of only Pork products to the general population and forced the population to worship multiple gods? What if they preached that Women only could rule and that all men had to shave off all body hair, wear black leather straps only, could own no property, could only do what the women told them? How would you feel? What would you do? Look up the history of early Islam, when Islam was first starting up? What did the Islamic armies do when they overran and captured Egypt? (answer: burn the library at Alexandria because it was full of heresy -- but keep all the scrolls dealing with warfare). Those Islamists out there, how would you feel if the Jews occupied all the holy sites of Islam, and destroyed all the existing Mosques and replaced them with Jewish temples? What would you do? What would you do if the circle of Islam was shrinking inwards instead of expanding outwards? What would you do if country after country was ridding itself of islam (or being helped along by say -- Hindus) and more and more of Islamic holy land was turning into homosexual education centers for ruling female lesbians? Think carefully before responding. Islam is the fastest growing religion. In places where there is an existing religious/ethnic identity that resists the conceptual spread of Islam, Islam resorts to force (usually teenage kids with guns, or bombs). The reason Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world is that Islam is being spread by every means possible. That is why it is growing so fast.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ishmal — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:00:06 GMT

I think it is a sad thing that kids are being set up to become jihads, bombers etc. I feel most people don’t understand that this is a religious stance. I live in the San Francisco bay Area and the people are too quick to point to other avenues including saying we deserve what we get. It is time to wake up and look at the reality; the issues in the Middle East are religious issues and have been for thousands of years with no end in sight. Most westerners are not accustom to this fact of life. As I have noticed over the past decade or so that Americans really don’t have a good understanding of any religious belief systems especially in the big city areas. In the event most westerners have not paid attention too is the fact that Muslims hate our society they hate everything about it from our capitalistic ways, the way we spend our money. Hello wake up if you are gay and live in a Muslim country and if you are outed you will be killed (remember this “Rosie” before protecting other country’s rights as you said you are more afraid of the Christian Right than Muslim Extremists’). I being a Gay male in the USA would not want to live in their world I know quite a few Gay men who come from those country’s and have disavowed themselves from the Muslim faith because of who they are. If you are a woman in a high power position within a corporation you too are at risk. Even if we pull out of Iraq or even if the Iraqi war did not happen they would eventually kill us only on the fact that they hate our life style. Our own Ignorance and Arrogance is our downfall, we are a very trusting society and have not come to grips with the reality that really exists. My guess is that it will be a lesson in the works as these terrorist come to our country’s and strap bomb to themselves and enter our kids schools and blow themselves up and our kids with them it will be then Americans will get the message.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

christian — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:01:04 GMT

Hey MIKE LAUREL, if you think the Koran has some unsavory verses then maybe you should TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIBLE WHICH SAYS IT IS OKAY TO SELL YOUR OWN DAUGHTERS AS SLAVES!!!! Exodus 21:7-8 "And in case a man should sell his daughter as a slave girl, she will not go out in the way that the slave men go out. If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master so that he doesn't designate her as a concubine but causes her to be redeemed, he will not be entitled to sell her to a foreign people in his treacherously dealing with her." When I looked up the word "concubine" in www.dictionary.com, I found: 1- Law. A woman who cohabits with a man. 2- In certain societies, such as imperial China, a woman contracted to a man as a secondary wife, often having few legal rights and low social status. (http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=concubine) And when I looked up the word "cohabits", I found: 1- To live together as spouses. 2- To live together in a sexual relationship when not legally married. (http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=cohabits) So in the Bible, the FATHER HAS THE RIGHT TO SELL HIS DAUGHTER TO BE FORCED TO SLEEP WITH OTHER MEN according to Exodus 21:7-8, and if she tries to be redeemed (to be set free), then her punishment is to be STUCK WITH HER MASTER

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jacob JOZEFS — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:02:01 GMT

CORRECTION: You can recruit "MEAT" out of the Deserts, Mountains, Jungle or Islands, but you cannot take that island, Desert, mountain, Jungle MENTALITY out of them. Besides being blind, via Religion or similiar Idiology, Thay can never give us a NEW PHILOSOPHy to change "The DEMOCRACY" except repeating that same OLD SONG that is now EVOLVING into NEW SONG for their own good. Religion Is Dieing a slow but sure death. And the SECULAR WORLD WINS, hands down! Ya Ya.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Khan — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:02:35 GMT

It seems ignorance is the biggest problem people of the world face today, be it people like these two boys or people like some of the bloggers above who are not aware of what Islam truely is about. Islam doesn't not teach killing non believers. It does ask all Muslims to do all they can in their power to CONVINCE non-believers to embrace Islam (which I'm sure Christianity asks from Christians too), but at the same time makes it very clear that nobody has the right to force a non-believer to enter the circle of Islam. As far as the story of these two boys is concerned, I would say this is the perfect example of how ignorance and lack of knowledge can make you deluded. These people confuse Islam for something its not. They claim to know they're religion but they don't due to lack of proper education even about their own religion, leaving them at the mercy of charlatans who manipulate religion for their own personal gains. And lastly, there is no such thing as an Islamic terrorist. Terrorists don't have a religion.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JS, Phoenix, AZ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:03:11 GMT

SPC John Dorobiala - Thank you for your service. It is nice to read stories of hope like you just provided here. I think people of the world would do what they could to help you further your goals/achievements of giving a hand up to the Iraqi citizens if they knew how. For now, thank you for what you are doing there to help them better their lives.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Zach, St. Louis, MO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:03:50 GMT

No no no. Most of you could not be more wrong. The muslim faith is actually a peaceful religion, it is just distorted by these radical leaders. I myself am not religious, I do not believe in being "saved". i need no saving, my actions shape me, and i have no regrets. Finally, if you would read the article, these teens aren't BORED, not by a longshot. They have nothing in their city or village, i don't remember which they had, but the point is they aren't bored, they are poor and and feel they will never go anywhere in life so they sacrifice themselves in the name of Allah in the hope they will have a better afterlife than their current life.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Darin, Kentuckiana — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:04:22 GMT

A lot of interesting comments here, and some absolutely retarded ones too. It always fascinates me to here people compare their religions, like theirs is superior. Seems to me like all "EXTREMEly" religious people, whether it be Muslim, Christian, Jew, etc. have no commom sense. Unfortunately, I have no answer to this problem, I'm not sure there is one. I think the guy who said we needed to send them electricity, playstations, and weed, had the right answer. That and some type of combat games.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

D Hart — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:04:40 GMT

I read some comments here that said the Qur'an promotes violence and the Christian bible does not. The Christian bible is one of the bloodiest books ever written. It is all in the interpretation - and therefore the misinterpretation of both texts, wherein lies the problem.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

TK, Hayes, VA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:04:47 GMT

There seems to be a consensus, the story of those boys is sad and disturbing. What's even more sad though, is the division of Americans bashing Americans on what the cause and solutions may be. Yeah, we have our own corrupt and imperfect areas here, but at least we live in a democracy where we can voice our differences. We are also one of the most generous and giving in time of need. I have to agree with some of the comments of Steve though, we can't be so naive into thinking throwing money their way is going to help. We're not battling a place, but an ideology of hate. We'd love to hold out a branch of peace --- but if that ideology comes with intent to destroy then we have the right to defend. They mean to bring us down so lets not forget who the enemy is. They don't play by the the rules. There are things out there to read and learn what they are all about. The story of the boys is just a small piece of it.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Djokua, SA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:06:05 GMT

It is easy for most people here to blame religion for all this, with the ignorance they live in. Everytime i read such news i think of all the atrocities committed by the 'super powers' on the developing countries. You americans won't be using internet facilities, to comment on stories, had it not been for your pathetic governments, who destoyed so many countries to satisy their own lust for money. and then we hear of the developing world being barbaric and un educated. brilliant just brilliant. look who's talking

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Chris — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:07:10 GMT

TO JS PHEONIX CHRISTIAN TERRORISM STILL EXISTS TO JS PHEONIX CHRISTIAN TERRORISM STILL EXISTS TO JS PHEONIX CHRISTIAN TERRORISM STILL EXISTS MANY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO KILL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST TODAY: Christian Terrorism in India- A 13 year terror trail has been left by Christians in North East India that lasts to this day, Christians have been killing several Hindus in the North India for the establishment of a seperate Christian state. As usual this barely gets any coverage by the media who dont seem to care about the many deadly terror attacks that have been commited by Christians in this region. http://www.stephen-knapp.com/thirteen_years_of_killings_in_tripura.htm

How two teens were recruited for jihad

S.L, Erie, PA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:07:52 GMT

Even if we kill the terrorist leaders, we can't eliminate terrorism because of the young boys that they are training !! They are the future terrorists ! It's a never ending cycle ! Once this war is over, they will still be recruting for jihad. There are still Nazi's after WWII. We didn't try to rid the world of Nazi's during WWII. There comes a point where this war has to end. It will never end, if we think we can rid the world of terrorism because that's impossible. These countries are still the same as they were thousand of years ago. They are barbaric and un-civilazed. And if you say "do you want them to come over here & attack us ?" They already have been trying to do that. With our increased security, we've already stopped a few. The terrorists wanting to attack America is nothing new. They wanted to attack us before 9/11.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dave Flannery — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:07:55 GMT

Their anger should be directed at their own leadership. Yet they (with the benign support of their own leadership) direct their anger at the U.S., Israel, and supposed "non-believers"! We have not failed or wronged them, their own leadership has. There is no more effective tool of poor leadership than misdirecting anger based upon a false "common enemy". We are the false "common enemy"; their own leaders are the their true enemy. Until they recognize this, they do indeed have no hope for the future. Their leaders want to maintain the status quo, and the world's media (and our own)continues mum on the subject!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Marty Iowa — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:08:12 GMT

If the free countries of the world want to kill the evil that being nurtured by the terrorists, then let us collect the youth, teach them good vs evil and then send them back to their countries to reform it. Offer these youths, that see no future for themselves, a future and help them to see how they can help form a brighter future. Offer free college, housing, etc. Bring them into the cililized communities that have the concept of freedom, and a desire to live with your neighbor. If they are willing to leave their homes and families searching for "excitement" lets give them a better reason than killing people. Leaflets, dropped from planes, in their language, to spread the word, offer them hope for a better life by living and not dieing. Collect them and take them to the free world and show the advantages of being free. The good Muslims of the world could help wipe out the thoughts, that killing and dieing is not the way to paradise. My thoughts are on those young people and how they are being used, "bloody fodder" by terrorists that are lead by the desire for power at any cost. As a Mother and Grandmother I cannot believe that parents are not raising up and defeating these terrorists that are taking their children and teaching them to kill. I would fight till my last breath to save one of mine.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Yankee Zeyphr, Olympia WA. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:09:43 GMT

With the billions of dollars we the taxpayers pay to forgien nations in foreign aid what have we gotten in return..we just hand over money by the millions of dollars to who? Some corrupt politicians who steal half for themselves and the other stolen while it trickles down the political stream. Hati is a good example and so was all the money the US gave to Arafat in Palestien. We the taxpayers should demand better accountability of forgien aid to issure hospitals, schools, farm equipment, and water systems are being built...But what we get instead are more rich politicians who want to be our friends until some other goverment comes along and offers them a better deal.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Edge of Idaho — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:09:43 GMT

Instead of creating opportunities for young people to kill themselves, religious leaders should be creating economic opportunities so that their people can live better lives. But time and again throughout history, we see organized religion, in one form or another, organizing murder.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Joe, CO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:09:58 GMT

I have an idea. Let's just invade every country one at a time until we 'fix' the entire middle east. Hey Bush, agree to the troop release deal in the senate and when the deadline comes, just pull them out of iraq and split them in two. then we can send half into pakistan and half into iran and fix everything that is wrong there as well. This would be much appreciated. Thanks bush.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Angel, McClean, VA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:10:09 GMT

The USA must stop doing business with any country that allows these radical Islam teaching. We must begin with Saudi Arabia and stop with whoever is the last one of those countries.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Peter — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:10:12 GMT

Radical Islam, like Radical Christianity, and like anything radical isn't good for the wellbeing of humanity, but what are we doing to address this problem. First when 100,000 Algiers died as victims of radical Islam in the 90s, we didn't care, but now we 're aware of it, and we're solving the problem through a great Public relation compaign of Abu Graib, Guatanamo Bay facilty, and the Iraq war in general, the war that somebody claimed we had to do to get rid of weapons of mass destrcution, only that we were getting rid of our weapons of mass destruction, and under the pretex of 911 aftermath. Surely, this is a different world for all of us. But, unlike our leaders, I see that we can win this war by ideology, not arms and certainly not the mass killings this president is willing to take. How many schools have we funded, how many business agreement have we done, how many visits our leaders have done to these areas (and don't count visiting American military bases). As a Christian, I don't seek revenge, and I will not lose my morals and democratic values in this fight because that what I'm fighting for; I won't need to open a gulag or operate mass killing facilties to deal with the problem. Remeber that Hitler refered to jews 'as a cancer' in Germany; Rumsfeld and others refered to Islam as a cancer, so you wonder if they admire the idea of a 'final solution' that would another valid tactic in this war; we shouldn't under the Geneva convention to worry about that, or so they claim!! Hatred first destroys the very heart that harbors it. Islam is just a pretext, and up to now no real Muslim army entered the war; we bash them, we stereotype them, and yet we blame them for hating that; are we fair in our policies, do we condemn torture, injustice, or are we the one partying with their tyrants ( Saudia Arabia and others) when they agree with us. Shouldn't we support Democracy? Let's mean what we say; the world is watching. If Timothy Macvay is Chritian than Ben Laden is Muslim, but we don't refer to religion when it's our guy doing bad things. We see the speck in our neighbor's eyes, but not the log in our own. 99.9 % of Muslims teens are peace loving human beings that deserve to be viewed so, are we told that part of the story. With Love Peter

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Victor Rosado Stevenson, SOHO, NYC — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:10:55 GMT

Those who recall on short memory should be forgetting about our own faults in history. Champ of the free? We have done much in cause of freedom, but this does not exempt us from the myriad faults that have plagued us. The bad thing about history is that most of it is written by conquerors, elite, and few. Before handing a receipt to others about their faults, we should review our own splurges: KKK, the US-Philippine war at the turn of 19th to 20th century (most have never heard of that and the atrocities like soldiers killing 8 yr old boys), the conquest of the "wild wild west" and the massacres to the country's original inhabitants, the corrupt decadent hyper-materialistic culture that engulfs our daily lives. Some in this thread say that most of the succesful states in the world are Christian, then why society is shunning God from everything, making it an almost politically incorrect term? Christians, like Muslims, Jews and other monotheistic religions have advocated for killing non believers over the course of their respective histories. Anyone have read about the Crusades? How Christians butchered all Muslims and Jews when they entered Jerusalem after conquering it in the First Crusade? Men, women, children, elder. Gee I wonder, is that not being a barbarian? Those two boys are badly misguided, and politically indoctrinated, there is little to be done with them, but the same happens here, as we are being bombarded constantly with the usual "us vs. them", "to question = being unloyal", "to dissent in thought = treason" messages that big corporations (actual people who run the country using stooge govt. officials) want us to believe. Before going to pluck others faults, we should work our own issues to see things more clearly. did to Philippino rebels)

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Angelo Parisi, New York, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:10:56 GMT

Muslims around the world and in the US have long been subject to negative stereotyping where they are presented as terrorists, as uncivilized, barbaric, exotic peoples who are oppressive to women. This portrayal of Islam and Muslims is perpetuated by many sectors of the US mainstream media as well as public educational institutions.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ace Cheek , Kansas — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:11:16 GMT

Governments (sometimes) are the ones that create a reason for wars. The majority of people in any nation are really good people and have never seen a American or know their heart. No one really wants war or feels the need to KILL anyone if they look deep enough in their heart. Most parents , brothers and sisters don't want to see their family lying dead in the street. Life is so precious. I wish I could communicate to these young men and women and get to their real feelings. I only know that no matter what higher power any one believes in , if it prevents killing of another human being and condems hate and ignorance, all people would have a better life. I prey in my own way to my HIGHER power to protect all people and for them to live a happier life and be comfortable in their hearts. We have all lost loved ones and condemn someone for it. IN my belief (MY HIGHER POWER), God... bless ALL!!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

RC, Utah — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:12:04 GMT

What people don’t seem to understand is that the Muslims don’t become ‘radical’ and want to kill us until we come in and try and tell them how they should live and what they should believe. They see us as evil crusaders and we wonder why. Why do you think people came to America in the first place? It was to escape this kind of persecution. We would not have these problems if Americans would mind our own business and stop expecting other cultures to live like us. It’s called tolerance. Too bad people don’t practice what they preach.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

pete — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:13:36 GMT

People say its relegion of peace..but look at history ..it shows otherwise..A US university has started $100 laptops..give them the laptops and internet..they will keep themselves busy!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

ron,port st john ,florida — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:14:17 GMT

I keep hearing emember the crusades thats part of the problem,western educated people have advanced past the 1100s,the muslim world is still living in that timeframe,sad....

How two teens were recruited for jihad

jason falls, bangor, maine — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:14:58 GMT

Bravo Mike Laurel from Maryland and Steve from Buffalo, NY. Muslims have a monopoly on bigotry, violence, cruelty and self-righteousness eh? I guess Hitler was a closet muslim...Queen Isabella too...the people who ran the slavery trade, definitely muslims..umm..our genocidal ancestors who wiped out the native american race..all muslims..the crusaders..all muslims..mussolini..100% muslim...oliver cromwell...yup him too...and it was musims who dropped the bombs on nagasaki and hiroshima after japan had already lost the war, it was muslims who napalmed vietnamese, who wiped out entire north korean villages..yup, muslims have a monoply on all sorts of evil friends and neighbours..our hands are clean..our souls snow white with purity.STOP INTERFERING IN THEIR AFFAIRS, STOP BOMBING THEM, STOP MAKING THEM FIGHT YOUR WARS, STOP SUPPORTING THE INBENEVOLENT DESPOTS RULING THEM, STOP MOCKING THEIR FAITH..STOP STEALING THEIR RESOURCES, STOP TRYING TO IMPOSE YOUR CULTURE AND VALUES (OR LACK OF) ON THEM. THAT IS THE ONLY ANSWER. there is no military answer, trying to bully them into submission will end in a conflict in which everyone will be a loser, especially us who have the most to lose.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Peter, Montana — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:15:03 GMT

Everyone is forgetting history here. Our international meddling, along with that of the British Empire before us, over the past hundred years or so, has set the stage for current geo-political mess we find ourselves in. All we needed was a group of people as crazy as the neocons to lead our country right into the fray. As Eisenhower said, he dreaded the day when the military industrial complex fell into the hands of bunglers who did not know the real horrors of war. IT IS OUR GREED that has caused all this. We pick and choose our battles around the globe based on protecting "American Interests", which means access to resources and capital. This is all done to further the aggredious, profit driven efforts of multi-national corporations, who, by proxy or bribery, run this whole world. Do enough wrong turns by people all over the globe and this is what you get. The people who we have wronged in the name of greed are just finally getting organized, grass roots style, to fight back. No sinister state to point a finger at, and eliminate, this time. This movement is coming up from the streets of a region we have messed with more than any other because of OIL. Anyone who denies this is a hypocrite seeking to shift blame and find no fault in their own behavior or that of our beloved country. And to answer the comment about getting this out on the battle field to fight like men and resolve this problem, that would be incredibly stupid now wouldn't it. They know they cannot beat us conventionally, so they have resorted to unconventional means. I think the phrase "by any means necessary" fits quite well. You call it cowardly, i call it pragmatic. Furthermore, everyone on this blog who has called for the American Consumer to start thinking about the ramifications of their daily consumption habits hit the nail on the head. Hitting the corporations where it hurts changes their policies which in turn WILL change governmental policies both domestically and abroad and eventually these shifts will trickle benefits down to the poverty stricken individuals across the world. In other words, market forces can be used for good, not only greed, but it takes a conscious consumer to make that happen, the corporations will not do it on their own. Theirs is a path of maximum profits unless we force them to adjust because they see economic benefit to adjusting. Just look at the shifts taking place currently with global warming, even Exxon admits it exists now and is taking steps, regardless of how small, to do something about it. Their efforts will be in direct proportion to our efforts. It is a simple game if we know all the corporations and government care about is money and a healthy economy, the hard part is getting a lazy, uncoordinated public to be collectively intelligent and driven enough to do something about it.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

ahmad — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:16:26 GMT

All the above respected brothers dont knw the meaning of jihad. So you cannot just point out that they are being recruited for suicide bombing. Basically Jihad is an arabic word which means to strive and struggle and there are different kinds of jihad. First of all this suicide bombing isnot any kind of jihad stated in Islam. Media is just pointing the black sheeps in muslim and they dont look what ordinary muslim lives. Coming back to jihad for example if a student is struggling and striving to do well in his exams it is also jihad. To make your self spritually strong and strive for it is also jihad. So my request is that please dont abuse islam if you dont knw the meaning. As for suicide bombings after US attacked Iraq Suicide bombing at a high level started from that day in whole of the world now who is to blame judge for your self???

How two teens were recruited for jihad

John Voldquist — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:17:01 GMT

Just some historical clarifications: The crusades, Dennis, were supposed to be about the recovery of Jerusalem for Christianity, (they certainly weren't doing it for the Jews), but really became an exercise in the deliberate and indiscriminate killing of non-Christians throughout Europe and the Middle East. Most of these killings occurred on soil (France and Germany) already controlled by Christians. Amina, I think the liberal US media has bent over backwards to show the good side of Islam. It is moderate Muslims who have failed to speak up to protest the hijacking of their religion by fanatics. This failing more than any other is what drives our view of Islam today. Lastly, Dave, America is hated for its culture, its immorality and the spread of its influence. Dictators stir up these fears because their people see our freedom and want it themselves. They need an enemy (US and Israel) to focus the rabble-rousers attentions on, instead of wondering why they live in poverty without freedom. They even sometimes buy the fiction that Israel occupies "Palestine." The last entity called Palestine was under British control after WWI. It was never a sovereign nation. 77% of Palestine is now called Jordan and that's where most Palestinians live. More than a million chose to live in Israel and are full Israeli citizens. Other Palestinians are in refugee camps because their Arab brethren chose to keep them there for political reasons. They have turned down statehood several times between 1948 and 2000 and have never given up their expressed goal to destroy Israel which sits on a tiny percentage of what once was mandatory Palestine.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

RRHamilton, Boynton Beach, Florida — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:17:22 GMT

Jason Falls, Bangor, Maine: You'll convince noone that they are idiots simply by calling them idiots. If you think someone is wrong, the proper thing to do is to state what it is they're wrong about and then to show why it is wrong. Name-calling is the hallmark of someone who can't refute his opponent's points.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ishmal, San Francsico — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:17:37 GMT

Hey Christian, Sounds like you lack even the basic knowledge of the Bible, you managed to twist and pervert it sound like you may do better off as a Muslim... In the event you did not read the newer books of the bible under Jesus’ teachings you would have learned that he abolished all the prior laws with his death. Muslim beliefs are much bigger that you can imagine and people like you pave the way for the final acts of Revelation to take place. The time is much closer that you think the prophecies have been fulfilled and it is just a waiting game allowing us to choose what side we will be on. I hope you choose the right road because in just a few years from now you will witness the ultimate cleansing of all times… All though it will be a positive most people look at it as a negative but those of us who have deep insight anticipate and celebrate it.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Gary schneeweiss New Jersey — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:17:57 GMT

AS always those who have little are jealous of those who have something. Instead of trying to free themselves and their Countrymen from the chains of poverty and little, they would rather bring everyone down to their level. If they would put as much effort into learning something valuable to better themselves as they do into trying to blow up America, Great Britain, Israel or any other country that strives to do better they would be better off. As long as these countries keep the general population ( especial women) incarnated into poverty it will always be easy to find body bombers. It's up to their population to realize that there is hope if they would open their eyes and minds.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

F. Toth — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:22:18 GMT

We are all asking ourselves why these people hate us and what can we do to correct this problem. We are told that we should build schools and help educate all these lost souls so that they can get some hope and a possibility of a future. But then there is the thought that the leaders are recruting all these children and teens in these madrasas because they are shown a bleek future with no oppertunities. What we need to do is slap down all these acts of terrorism and vialence with a responce that is magnified by 1000, you kill 3000 of our citisens and we wipe out 3000000 of yours . There would be no region or group that would even consider an attack appon our nation.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

MGB, St Thomas, VI — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:22:45 GMT

pure propaganda. Religion is not at the root of wars, it is money. People need to realize that those who profit from war are the people who start them.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

HASSAN,NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:25:01 GMT

There is hope but it'll take a long time to change peoples mentality in that particular part of world. but I think that here in USA our teens are facing same problem but their reaction is different. they turn to gangs ,drugs, alcohol as compared to these teens in pakistan who turned to suicide bombing and terrorism. being a muslim one thing I know that islam DOESNOT ALLOW ANYONE TO TAKE HIS/HER LIFE OR ANOTHER INNOCENT'S. ITS RELIGION OF PEACE AND WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES FROM OUR PROPHETS LIFE THAT CAN BE USED TO CHANGE MINDS OF THESE MUDRASSA OWNERS AS WELL AS PEOPLE IN USA AND AROUND THE WORLD.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Donnovan, malden,ma — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:25:01 GMT

What is wrong with these people. All they teach is to hate and kill every non-muslims. They really need some serious help.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Sadiq Memon, Calgary, Alberta — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:27:11 GMT

Reading these comments reveal the lack of knowledge and understanding most Americans have about the religion of Islam in general and about Pakistan in particular. It was nevertheless heartening for me to see few Americans trying to set the record straight and being rational by educating the rest about the teachings of Islam and about Pakistan's location. Being a Pakistani it is completely understandable for me to realize the socio-economic problems the country's populace is facing, especially the youth. At the same time, I belong to the class who had the fortune to study in public schools and had many luxuries available so even I can not really relate to the hardships these guys have to face everyday. The problem is much deeper which providing them extra carricular activities like Playstations or games would not solve. The society of Pakistan went through radical changes during the late 70s and early 80s during military rule. The war against Soviet occupation in Afghanistan took an unbelievable toll on Pakistan. Apart from giving refuge to 10-15 milion Afghanis, Pakistani society saw the proliferation of arms and drugs alongwith widespread corruption and the spread of fundamentalism. Who was to blame for this? Ofcourse the military dictator and his hand picked cronies. But, the again the US was equal party to this tragedy as they were the ones who supported and provided active help in keeping the General in power. The scenario is replaying itself right now with a different General and President. Again, who is to be blamed for this? Islam? Pakistan? Suadi Arabia? or the US? And even if we were to identify the real culprits, what will that serve? What can be done to end this madness? Talk of destroying all the madarssa's and Imam's is not going to serv any purpose but will make the situation even worse. Everyone of us has a duty to fight against this bigotry and fanaticism whether it is in Middle East, South Asia, Europe, or North America. We need to not only educate others but ourselves too and be more tolerant of other's opinions and their freedom. Unfortunately, these days tolerance for one's color, language, or culture is quite prevalent but not about one's religious beliefs.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Robert - Nashville, TN — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:28:16 GMT

Well, if people had not figured out that Islamic jihadist recruit young people before, now you know. Interesting that their reason to become suicide bombers was because they "are so unhappy with our lives here, We have nothing". They have nothing and are unhappy so lets go blow up some people in Israel, America, or anywhere else there are non-Muslims. Sure fire way to become happy and get something. Very interesting that this wonderful school (armed guards are also a nice touch ) also offers computer science, engineering, & pre-med classes. Wonder how many are signed up for those classes to try to help people in the future rather than blowing them up. This Muridke Madrassa school sounds like a wonderful place, to test out some cruise missiles or smart bombs................

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jane Doe, Atlanta Georgai — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:29:02 GMT

I want to bring something to your attention since I was born and raised in India. The average Pakistani on the street is raised to hate USA and India. It seems that they get their strength from hating USA for supporting Israel and India for being a country of Hindus. Don't blame the boys, or the parents or the school. It has taken over 50 years of indoctrination, since Pakistan was founded in 1947 for this hatred to erupt into this violence. There is no one solution. The root of the evil, the madarsas have to be closed, but that is not possible, because of popular support.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Sal, Westminister CO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:29:21 GMT

WOW, just another reason to seperate the church from the state. Teaching reliigon in schools only leads to what we are seeing in the middle east now. One person's view on how the religion should be tought. Now look that we have now, kids blowing themselves up for someones personnel view on religion. Until Islam can be remove from schools, we should expect to see generations of familiy sending their sons and daugheter to learn how to blow themselves and others up. At least their gene pool will be stronger. The Middle East should be nominated for a Darwin Award.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Indifference all over, Baltimore, Maryland — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:31:24 GMT

Where is the difference between these kids being recruited for jihad and our kids being recruited by Uncle Sam to fight?....These kids are fighting for their God, our kids for their God. Like it or not this GWOT is not about 'freedom', 'democracy', or 'security', we all know that. So why we're attacking these people that have a right to protect themselves from imperialistic ventures. It does not matter if you kill a person(s) by blowing yourself up, or launch a rocket from a plane 10 miles away, murder is murder. These kids are recruited to kill themselves in the name of God, we ask ours to kill in the name of 'democracy' and 'freedom'. Muslims against Christians all over again.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

David E, Casper, Wy — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:31:27 GMT

maybe we should pull out of the middle east altogether and focus on protecting our country. They cant kill us if we aren't over there. It doesnt matter what we do they will always hate us.This war will never end unless we stop giving them targets. We need to worry about the US's problems. But we probably wont because there is oil over there, and thats the real reason we are over there.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

jason falls, bangor, maine — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:31:32 GMT

John Volquist, when some one enters your home, kicks you out, kills your brethren, confines you to refugee camps (worse than the warsaw ghettoes), rolls tanks down your alley ways and states that his occupation of your land is the fulfillment of his religion and his destiny, what do you expect that person to do? The creation of Israel was the worst act of religious extremism in living history. What are we following today? The philosophy of Nietzsche? A separate moral code for us and a separate one for the "slaves"?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Steve, Hartselle Al. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:33:19 GMT

There are so many people on here denouncing 1)our goverment...not remembering why we went there 2) Islam and Muslin religion 3) Military recruiting. We have just reason for being there and our presence needs to stay so the people supporting our cause and their's are not MURDERED when we leave. Muslims ane not bad people but when they go extreme they go all the way...we have had a lot of different groups in the U.S. go wacky...including christians. When Malcolm X went to the middle east he met and saw white muslims and black muslims all living in harmony, that is when he came back to the U.S. and changed his tune about living and working and becoming friends with white people..he realized it wasn't the race but the mind set people had and were brought up believing... Military has always and will always recruit kids..and from poor communities as much aas possiable. They have less options? No, but the recruiters will tell them how much easier it will be to get money for college, see the world, learn a trade. It's not lies, they don't tell you the world you see will be extremely dangerous because, the military wouldn't be there if it was all fun. I respect, admire and am thakfull for all the men and women who serve our country...I guess in this rambeling I think we all need to just look at our own self rightous country and be glad were not over there. besides those kids were looking at things the same way ours are..our military calls it the buddy system where you can go through basic training with a friend...

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Larry J, Butte, MT — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:33:37 GMT

Hopefully the frustration expressed by these two young men hits home with those reading this thread. Idle hands are the devils playground come to mind, and a life without opportunity, challenge or fulfillment can be pretty tough to face. Life can't simply be about quantity without taking quality into the equation, yet most religions profess having as many offspring as possible (a basic premise of evolution) so that you can simply outnumber competition and become dominant. Yet unbounded reproduction produces exactly the issue these young men are trying to overcome by joining Jihad so they can become "great". They truly believe that theay have no other way to contribute to their culture, family or tribe - or so they have been lead to believe. Developed and developing societies groom their young men and women to "buy" into the dream, education, careers, homes, cars and revolving credit, they believe they are contributiors to the society and hope to leave the world a better place for their offspring - yet as populations rise, resources become scarce and opportunities drift ever farther out of reach for the lower classes until that same sense of frustration - expressed by these two youngsters - foments strife and conflict and the eventual downfall of the society. Examples are rife in history and religion is usually at the core of that downfall. These be difficult times and hopefully these parents can show their sons the advantage of long and productive lives far outweigh the mythical promises of an immediate demise. These recruiters are cleaver folks - they won't blow themselves up, yet they never push to get anyone to commit to selfdestruction until they themselves ask for the mission. Commitment is everything, for these two youngsters it may only be a matter of time!!!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Stacy B. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:57:26 GMT

Unless we are willing to learn from History we are doomed to repeat it. Just as in WWII, the Muslims are every bit as fanatical as the Japanese and the Nazis. The Japanese were taught from birth the Emperor was a Living God,and those who died in his service were glorified and revered(Kamikazees), they also believed themselves to be a superior race justifying their brutal treatment of others. The Nazis, (Hitler Youth), were taught from birth that they were the superior race, A 1000 year Reich was indeed their destiny and birthright. In the end it finally took 2 atomic bombs and millions of lives to bring them to their knees. If anyone thinks the fanatical muslim elements, Iran, Jihad, Taliban, al-queida etc., etc., will be any different, you are severely underestimating their belief system as well as their resolve. Sal had it right about the Darwin award, to better understand them, you must remove 500 years of evolution, they are doomed to repeat history because they don't even believe the Holocaust occurred. That knowledge will ultimately be what saves us.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Chris,Raleigh,Nc — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:59:30 GMT

O.K. before you are to hard on these kids or not hard enough, I want you to finish the sentence below for me. To be born in the trench of warfare is to be born into?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Litnin — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:04:43 GMT

It makes no sense to me why 2 young men think blowing themselves up will acomplish them greatness. I wonder if they actually got an education whether that would truly help? It seems to me that some of the radical religions out there teach their children at a very small age to Hate certain Religions/Countries/ etc.. So obviously education is not the answer to radical beliefs. Children are taught to hate, they would play along side another child quite peacefully as long as someone didn't feed them a bunch of radical beliefs. Children just want to have fun they don't care what color, religion, country another child is from they see them as a child. It is the Parents or other grown ups who see that child they are playing with as White, yellow, black, green... A Christian, Jew, Islam, or whatever. Children don't care about it... they are taught it. So to all those adults out there spreading hatred towards fellow man Shame on you and shame on all of us, Goodbye world! It's to bad we all couldn't get along, what a great planet this could be if we could.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Reality, Check, MO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:08:54 GMT

Please watch the documentary Obsession. All muslim non believers and muslims waiting to jump a side (post by ahmad) should really understand and educate them selves and others about what is really going on.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

KS — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:11:11 GMT

Dr. Nader Pourhassan discusses many of these issues in his book "The Corruption of Moslem Minds." The most important thing that he focusses on is the way that Islam is being undermined by hard-liners that are attempting to manipulate the faith in order to promote their own agendas. The laws that are being taught come from the resalah, a book of laws that are extracted by scholars from the Koran. The laws vary from congregation to congregation, and that is how this religion is being manipulated. Islam is a peaceful religion; the Koran promotes peace more than the new or old Testament. The problem is in the way it is being taught, and education is the only solution. What I don't understand is how we can say that, as Americans, we are not guilty of promoting hate. I've been to Protestant services that openly promote the hatred of Jews. I have been to Catholic services that openly promote the division of Christianity. Just watch any episode of Glenn Beck-his reckless use of air-time is terrifying. Hatred exists all over the world, and we are not any different. The only solution is promote education and socioeconomic development, but that is easier said than done.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Yogi Anand, Rochester Hills, Michigan — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:11:23 GMT

We better realize we are all in it together. The world is a global village. We better move from the thinking 'them vs us', to thinking that 'we have a problem'. Let us engineer optimum designs and build efficient and lasting solutions. We all need to do some introspection as to what can we do to solve the problem ... bombing, killing, dominating, and threatening is not going to solve such a problem. We need to abide by the old fashioned values ... valuing life, respect for each other, tolerance, patience, non-interference in others affairs, doing unto others as we would like done to ourselves, ... I was born in the undivided India and I and my family did suffer the consequences of the partition of the country and its subsequent effects. I don't mean that we have to become cream puffs. We have to stand up for good old fashioned values ourselves and let eveyone know that we better behave ourselves. I don't mean it is going to be easy. I don't mean there are going to be no conflicts. However, let us concentrate on resolving the conflicts, rather than bomb and kill those we disagree with, through jehad, suicide bombing, massive force, or weapons of mass destruction. So let us move beyond 'what is good for me' to 'what is good for us' and let it begin with me.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Shak , Seattle , WA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:14:46 GMT

Reading comments from readers convinces me that most of americans are either ignorants or have very short memory. There are some exceptions such as Niddy ,from Philadelphia, Victor from Washington D.C. etc. Rewind back to couple of decades back to Afghan Jihad in 80s , when CIA WAS SPONSORING GREATEST JIHAD AGAINST INFIDEL RUSSIANS BY RECRUITING THROUGH THEIR AGENTS YOUNG PEOPLE TO FIGHT & providing them with arms, money , training & hateful literature to accomplish that over a long period of time of about 10 years .Thousands of Madrassas ( cover for armed training ) were established along Afghanistan - Pakistan border & tribal areas of Pakistan with Saudi money & US help where children were tought violent & hateful teachings by exploiting religious fervour for political gains & by giving them AK 47s rifles. After their purpose was completed with the withdrawl of U.S.S.R. & made USA sole superpower they left leaving these hate factories(Madrassas)that would flourish to exploit young minds now. Fast forward now & veterans & followers of that era are continuing their campaign of brainwashing of young minds.The only difference is that U.S & west are the new infidels.Its A CLASSIC CASE OF BLOWBACK. So in short the seeds of hate & intolerance that were sowed during that time are giving harvest in the form of fanatics & suicide bombers & meanwhile peaceful religion of Islam is under attack by propaganda & prejudice by ignorants & also has been hijacked by bunch of lunatic jihadists. The way to fight this is to spread education based on tolerance for all human beings irrespective of religion , national origin ,etc. & instead of attacking other countries on false pretexts that create more hate , invest in education & economic uplift in developing countries to give hope to these young people. In the end live by motto : LOVE FOR ALL HATRED FOR NONE !

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Gil, Birmingham, Al — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:27:24 GMT

Some folks need a geography and a history lesson. We have no major military presence in Pakistan and we are not running around harassing Pakistani villagers. In addition, though the U.S. supports Israel heavily, we were not a major participant in the creation of Israel and we certainly weren't there kicking people out and rolling tanks down streets. Last, but not least, I don't believe New York City is in the Middle East and I seem to recall it used to have twin towers (so who initiated the violence?). You will all recall that even though Japanese military units struck Pearl Harbor, the Japanese population suffered the consequences. Muslims dancing in the streets after the 9/11 attack, whether the majority felt like celebrating or not, didn't help the cause of rational thinking and reaction. Maybe we should have apologized for building the Towers (and the Pentagon) and the buildings getting in the way of those gentle, completely misunderstood folks who hijacked the airplanes.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Brian D. Rowe, Post Falls, Idaho — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:29:31 GMT

After reading all of these posts and arguing with myself about posting I think my OPINION can fit in here somewhere. I can understand where alot of you can say that without religion there can be no moral sense of right and wrong, I have quite a few friends who are very religious and their parents taught them right and wrong through that religion. I was not, however, brought up in a religious home and I have a very strong sense of right and wrong. My family didn't need a god to punish us for killing another person or stealing or anything like that, we were only taught that we need to respect other people. I believe that is the basis for all religions, I have researched many in the course of my life, and while the gods in each may have been represented differently, and the laws subtly different, the basis remained the same. I do however realize that most of the wars throughout human history were started because of the small differences in said religious laws and doctrines. I believe our current international dispute is the result of many different issues, religion not the least of them; but I also believe that even if those basic issues are resolved there will always be war somewhere. If only because some person or nation believes their way is the only way. It has existed (and still does) here in the U.S., and it will exist elsewhere until there are no more humans left with inferiority and superiority complexes to propogate violence.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mike, Carson City, NV — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:29:50 GMT

Can anyone explain to me why other mid-eastern countries have not come forward in the region to help out the regional problem? Maybe establish a regional "union" to improve the ecomonics of the area? One developed country to be "lead dog". At one time the region was the most advanced in the world! so what happened? Wouldn't those people like to be recognized as a "world partisipant" and admired for their contributions? They need to "pull themselves up by the bootstraps" and move forward! We (the U.S.) can't ever do that for them, it has to come from within!!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Syd, KC, Mo — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:35:11 GMT

I strongly urge all to log in this website http://www.load-islam.com/wel_islam.php?topic_id=2 to learn about the true Islam not the Islam islamophobes talk about these days, just one thing i would say is that one should not generalize about anything, and if a few scores of fanatics do what they do in the name of Islam one should obviously think they DO NOT represent the 1.6 billion moslims out there, i just ca not understand why everytime an individual commits a lunacy in the name of Islam is branded a''muslim terrorist'' instead of by his race or natioanliy for example, because Islam is innocent of his violent acts, where as if a christian or a jew or a ....perpetrates an attrocity he's not, u ever heard in the western media:'' CHRISTIAN american soldiers subjected Iraqi prisonners in ABU GRAIB to all immoral and violent kinds of torture''? or :'' CHRISTIAN Serbs mass murdered 8000 bosnian muslims including the rape and the killing of their women during the war in Yuguslavia''? NO, so why should Islam be attributed to their violent acts, i know they come from some muslim countries and they do claim acting in the name of Islam but do we have to drift with their claims and say indeed Islam is a violent hateful backwarded religion? i have but respect for Christianity judaism and all religions and i just can not understand why Islam is treated as the new Red Scare because it is absolutely not, please log in the website i included above to learn for urself, thank u.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Brendan, Littleton, CO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:42:10 GMT

The Muslim world needs to defend itself against the likes of Bush & his stupid roadmap to civil war in the middle east..I mean, peace.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

meme, NY, NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:47:22 GMT

I would think of all people it would be Muslims who are angry at these jihadist recruiters, taking advantage of disillusioned Muslim youth and using them to force their own idealogy forward. It's also sad to think people around the world are dying because young people in the Muslim world became suicide bombers or w/e out of boredom. Instead of working to improve their homes, they want to kill the rest of us. How does that make sense??

How two teens were recruited for jihad

F. Ginebra, San Juan, PR — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:48:53 GMT

Until we, “The Human Kind”, keep on living under different skies, the problem would never be resolve.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ben, Orange County — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:49:33 GMT

The worst type of war to be a party to is CIVIL WAR, both sides believe with all they have that they are correct and that is what makes men far more dangerous. When one believes that he is right and is being forced to defend himself, his country or his beliefs he will then stop at nothing to defend that which means the most to him. When will our Senators and congress wakeup and realize that we are a third party to a civil war. I hate to say this but Americans are better off helping in the US where there is no threat of helping someone and getting blown up for your efforts.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Batch, Colo Spgs CO — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:53:28 GMT

I'm embarassed with the ignorance of my fellow Americans. We're so spoiled, we'll never know what a struggle life can be. We can only stand on our false pedestal of inferiority and cast stones at those less fortunate, less fortunate to serve our purpose. Is anyone aware that we would have 100% supported the Taliban if they would have agreed to look after the oil pipeline we wanted to build. They said no, so we brought out our guns. Just like Saddam and Osama were once on our payroll. All the luxuries we have come at the price of people suffering in many of these countries. Oil in the middle east, sweat shops in asia, diamonds in Africa, the list goes on and on. I'm 100% guilty and I acknowledge that the realization is my luxuries come at the expense of someone else. Believe it! History will show that the last time we were faced with the dilemna of share the wealth or hog it we chose the later. We got rid of most of those savage, unclean, stupid, inferior Native Americans. Looks like most Americans generalize the same about Muslims. I guess if we make them out to be lesser men it will be easier on our minds to wipe them out. That's really the dilemna we face. At what cost do we want to keep living the way we do.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

wasi siddiqui — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:54:34 GMT

The people who believe that Pakistani youth is being recruit for Jihad, is absoutely wrong , if economic situation is improved, jobs are created , then who is the youth who want to be a Jihadi , or suicide bomber. Nobody who has a good job, or a bright future could do such a thing or even think about it. There are millions of youth in Pakistan, who are looking for jobs, and so many who will be graduating with a ambitions of having a good future, but when they can't find a job , and they became dishearted ,as a result of this situation , they fall into wrong hands. If Government pays attention to this situation , this can be controlled, but to be honest, the Pakitani Government has no interest in this grave situation. what a shame for so called Government who has others endeavours and letting this situation gets out of control. Believe in free expression. Thanks

How two teens were recruited for jihad

kristi — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:59:11 GMT

why are we wasting our time with trying to figure out the problem? why aren't we trying to find the resolution? is there really a resolution to the problem? and why do we try to attack the way people protect themselves? if a man breaks into my house, i will protect myself, wouldn't you? enough said!!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

P. Samuels — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:59:45 GMT

Sure. If you want to be 'great', then dont do anything productive. Become a suicide bomber and work very hard to slaughter as many innocent people as possible. Religion and jihad are man-made. And, I do mean man made. Women would never come up with such stupidity and barbarism. P. Samuels

How two teens were recruited for jihad

branwen, st louis, mo. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:20:20 GMT

Does noone here know any history? The world is turning as it always does. The have nots always overwhelm and beat the haves when the tipping point is reached. That tipping point comes when their lives are so desparate that they literally have nothing to lose, including their lives, because their lives are not worth living. There is absolutely nothing we can do about this. There are over 6 billion people in this world and most of them have reached this point. They live on every continent. The west is very small in comparison with everyone else, and we are the haves. We're also the ones who have helped make their lives so miserable. Remember the Roman Empire. It will be bloody. It will be long. But no civilization stays on top forever. Neither does any religion. There's an ancient curse that says, 'May you live in interesting times.' Well the times are definitly interesting now. And just like the lemmings who walk off the cliffs when over population threatens the group we are nearing those cliffs. With climate change threatening massive groups of people with starvation and thirst they will be on the move, with war displacing populations refugees are on the move. It's not the biblical armageddon as such, it's the world turning. As it always has and always will. In the end of the movie 'The Hunt for Red October' Connery's character says to Baldwin that a revolution every now and then was a good thing. So is a massive die off. It clears the air so people can start over. The black death accomplished this in the middle ages, which eventually spurred the development of the middle class and representative government. The 'barbarians' of history are here to stay. They are no longer at the gate. They kicked open that gate on 9/11. And our response to that in Iraq has just sped up the timetable. What happens when the mid-east gets so desparate about our interference that they blow the oil fields so we will leave them alone? Where will you be when the electricity goes out and the next ice age begins? This will happen. It always does. The planet always wins. And, life will go on. It just might not be human.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ali, Anaheim, CA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:22:57 GMT

Definition of Jihad and how it applies to current issues. The word "Islam" means, surrendering one's desires, ego, selfishness, agenda into the "Salam". "Salam" means to be "Whole". "Whole" would mean the state of society, spirit, body, earth, individual to be in harmony and balanced and be in equilibrium. When anything falls out of balance and equilibrium, it has gone out of "hadd". "Hadd" would mean bounds. Then, "Ji-hadd" would mean struggle to bring back within the "hadd". Therefore, Jihad means, the struggle to bring back to balance/equilibrium. A person's body can be out of balance, so he/she will have to perform jihad to bring it back to balance. A person's desires/appetites can go out of balance, he/she will have to struggle to bring it back to balance. A community can go out of harmony. That can happen from a natural disaster, turmoil from within, people mistrusting each other, or an attack from an outside force. Then the community, collectively, would have to perform Jihad to bring back their harmony. In Islam, it is to be noted, that the jihad can only be performed to attain the harmony/balance/equilibrium and once that is achieved the jihad HAS to stop. During the jihad one cannot threaten what are considered God given rights of the human being. Such as, integrity, freedom, sovereignty, and honor. Also, Jihad MUST NOT threaten what the human being holds sacred, such as beliefs, sanctuaries etc. Also, Jihad MUST NOT threaten society's infrastructure. For example, the purpose behind nuclear weapons is to basically cripple a country. So, ideally, in Islam, nuclear weapons would be prohibited, although this topic has not entered the scholarly discourse yet. But I hope and pray that it does real soon. In Islam, it is believed that God created man in his inherent nature. One of characteristics of the inherent nature of man, universally accepted, is the right to be proud, have dignity, and be free. Americans should understand the value of freedom. America has struggled for its dignity and its freedom. If the men and women who died to free America from the colonial powers were muslims in their faith, they would've been considered IN ISLAM to have died doing Jihad and they would've been considered martyrs with a one way ticket to heaven. If the people who died to abolish slavery were muslims in their faith, then Islam would've considered them to have died doing Jihad and consider them martyrs. So having done their own "Jihad", why is it hard for Americans to understand the Jihad of the muslims? Is Israel not occupying Palestinian territories? Are Palestinians not human enough to fight for their right to human dignity, freedom and self-determination? Half of America holds the opinion that the Iraq war was based on lies. Isnt America occupying Iraq and killing innocent civilians in Iraq? What about the Iraqi rights of self-determination, human dignity and freedom? Why are Iraqis so humiliated that an Iraqi life is worth no where near an American life? Because they are third world and we are the banner of civilization? Attacking a tenent of a religion that is inherent in all peoples of the world is foolish. Having done Jihad yourself, you have to understand that Jihad is not your problem. So what is the problem then?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Phinnious, Mesa, Az. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:23:01 GMT

Young people in this country have chosen the path of the "volunteer" millitary for years to escape urban blight in the city or economic hopelessness in the country. I "escaped" from East N.Y. in the early 80's for the temporary stabillity it offered. When I came home, I'd say at least 25% of the neighborhood kids were hooked on crack cocaine or other illegal drugs.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Michael Greer Mo. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:23:36 GMT

Its a shame that we all bear that life has no value and the only value we place on life is that which others would access it to be. If people would really learn the word of GOD then murder would not be a life style. Instead we could work on more meaningful things in life, like clean water fresh air and enough food for everyone, oh thats right we have to die for something. In this country it has become fifteen seconds of fame and all the gold you can carry. I thought we were supposed to be smart enough to learn from our mistakes. Keep teaching your children not to worry about their neighbors and we all will end up in a Jihad!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bill H., Detroit, MI — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:34:09 GMT

Although I see some progress being made here, I am baffled by the average American's understanding of just how destructive the United States' continued interference and outright oppression in the Middle East has been and continues to be, and why that fact is a key factor in the spread of anti-Western ideologies and terrorism. Osama Bin Laden was raised to power not from Islamic roots alone but under the tutelage and finance of our CIA, placed there to support our interests against those of the Soviet Union whose incursion into Afghanistan upset our dollar to gallon oil import finance structure. Countless other "incidents" and "agendas" carried out by the USA have resulted in literally millions of deaths in the Middle East (i.e., witness the Iran-Iraq war where the US shamefully supplied both sides with weapons, including poisonous gas and aerial gas targeting data). I ask you, what may have been the result of our "influence" had it not been rooted in militarism and the weapons supply industry? Had our influence been based on humanitarian aid and wise diplomacy, would we have reaped the same harvest on 9/11/2001? I honestly cannot say but I will say that it is time for a definitive investigative report on America's shameful legacy in the Middle East in the same vein as the powerful article this Blog is addressing.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JS, Cornwall, CA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:54:37 GMT

So many of you that are saying "send money, build them schools, give them an education, make their lives better" think before you speak? These people are killing their own countrymen/citizens continuously. These freaks are not killing "Americans" or the "Enemy". They are trying to instill such a fear on their own people and force them to "BLAME AMERICA" for what is happening. If we built them schools, they would just burn them down, if we give them educations, the would just have better knowledge of how to build these bombs. These people need to stand up against the "jihad" extremists themselves, but yet they just stand by and watch. These people have all that money from their OIL & Gas. These countries are not "poor" as many of you believe. The countries themselves should do something for their own people instead of relying on others to step in. If these extremists would sit down and realize the quicker they stopped with the bombs, the quicker they stopped with the shootings & terror, the quicker "AMERICA" would be out of there and just another country in a big world.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Joshua William deHertoghe — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:54:39 GMT

ALL THIS TALK ABOUT THESE KIDS AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE. JUST GET THE COORDINATES OF THIS TRAINING FACILITY AND OTHERS LIKE IT AND BE DONE WITH IT. IS IT REALLY THAT HARD TO UNDERSTAND. THERE ARE NO MEDIATORS OR ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO STOP THIS WAY OF LIFE. FORGET ABOUT IRAQ THERE NEVER WILL BE A SOLUTION. WE ALREADY HAVE ENTERED A WAR THAT WILL NEVER END. SO LET'S FOCUS ON KILLING THESE INNOCENT LITTLE SCHOOLS. BEFORE THEY GRADUATE OR MULTIPLY LIKE COCKROACHES.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Rick, Houston, Texas U.S.A. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:57:18 GMT

I have read this entire blog and seen many statements that I agree with, as well as many that I do not. But I am surprised at the sense of agreement many of us seem to have on certain fundemental aspects of the issue, given the amount of venom spread by the mainstream press regarding "our" alledged opinions. Many of us seem to agree that,in simplest terms... 1. Radicalism - in any form - is rarely a viable force for the accomplishment of anything worthwhile. It doesn't work in religion, government, or even personal behavior. It is a force that renders its practicioners isolated, bereft of common decency and sensibility, and offensive to others. 2. (Hear me out on this one)Religion may well be the most dangerous force on the planet. Although I do believe you can prove the existance of God ( in whatever form one would describe)through derivitive logic, I certainly do not feel that any deity...for any logical reason...would create a world in which it would condone the murder of one people by another simply because there is disagreement over exactly how to worship, or even because some people choose not to worship at all. Had God, as I choose to call it, been intolerant of differing opinions, creation would have occured in a manner that would not allow for the evolution of such opinions. Religion has many forms out of necessity. In short, religion, as one writer put it, allows some of us to make sense of life in our context, and find some comfort and direction in difficult circumstances. Used improperly and insincerely, however, it is nothing short of a weapon of mass destruction. 3. It is wrong to think that we, because we have accomplished much, owe the rest of the world any more than charitable assistance in the face of unforseen disasters. By that, I mean that it is not our responsibilty to clean up the messes that other societies have brought on themselves by their own actions, or the lack of any action. Make no mistake about this...in many parts of the world we are hated because we represent everything that some others want but do not have. We have been opportunistic when others that had the same resources have not.And oppressed societies are taught to hate us because there leaders know well that if these people ever come to know the freedoms and, yes, the wealth we have, their time in power will abruptly end. While I am not proud of certain traits in American society(and some others), such as the glorification of the "Gangster" image and mentality, or even "reality" TV (there's an oxymoron), I am certainly not of the opinion that America has anything to be ashamed of in comparison to the rest of the world. 3A. Some countries need to take responsibility for their own failures, and purge themselves of the ideologies and leadership that have failed them. America, in large part is hated because we have many things that others do not. And the tendency of man is to infer that something unfair has occurred when one succeeds while another has failed. To do otherwise would mean taking personal responsibility for failure. I would say this to some other societies. The downtrodden have risen and triumphed throughout recorded history. Is our place in time so unique that this can no longer be accomplished? 4. Money, in and of itself, will not solve these problems. Poverty will never be cured by increased funding. I do believe that my good fortune is not wasted if I offer some of it to those who, through service to others, age, or infirmity, find themselves truly in need. But,no matter how much is spent, or where it is spent, money in the hands of the corrupt or the ignorant is soon wasted on little gain. Look only as far as the welfare system in the U.S. if you require proof. Those who are given money seldom value it, or spend it wisely. But money does, to some extent, make the world go around. Which brings us to the next point. 5. Education is the key. One participant used the phrase "worldly education". Not the education we are given in religious, sectarian, or agenda driven universities, but "worldly" education. I have a bachelor of science degree from a fine university, and I will tell you plainly that, in all the years I spent in school, I learned only one thing of truly universal value. People must think for themselves!!!There are countless facts, ideas, beliefs and viewpoints out there and, believe me, just as many people who will have you believe as they do for their own benefit. But a person becomes successful, and makes money, by thinking in terms of what is best for themself, their family, and community. We must provide the world with exposure to information without indoctrination. Access to education should be universal, and without the constraints of any doctrine. Teach people what we know to be scientific and practical truths, certainly, but always encourage the freedom and even the responsibility to examine and re-evaluate. Celebrate a tolerance of others who think differently, even if you are confident in your knowledge, simply because their course may slightly alter and add to your own understanding of the world. In this way education is somewhat like religion. Show me a religion that encourages it's followers to question their system of beliefs,and to have faith only in that which has some basis in logical, moral, common sense - and I will show you a viable and tolerant religion. And I will show you a knowledgeable, tolerant, and successful society.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Travis — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:58:17 GMT

I am Iranian and I live in the United States. I have lived in the United State since I was seven. I am 26 now. Yes, the Middle East has its problems. Every country in the world has its problems. Problems can be heightened by outside forces. The United State loves to stick its nose were it doesn't belong. The United States toppled the first Iranian Democratic government and put the Shah in power (a tyrant) and supported him. The whole time the Shah was in power the people of Iran lived in poverty. The Shah and his oil friends in United State profited from the oil of Iran. It was the United States that gave Saddam Hussein his chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq war. And it was the CIA that made all of Saddam Hussein’s war plans during that time. The Middle East is the way it is because it has oil and because the United States, Britain, and Russia are always messing with it. Bush is an oil tycoon. Cheney is an oil tycoon. Come on people... 1 + 1 = 2. I don't agree with the suicide bombing ideology; if I pushed you in a corner and start beating the crap out of you, you are going to kick, scream, spit, and bite to stop me. Also, why is it terrorism when a man who just saw his son blown up straps a bomb to himself to fight Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people but it isn't terrorism when Israel launches a missile into a crowded Palestinian market place? The United States and its allies need to stop with the double standards. I can have nukes and use them but you can't. Whatever. One more thing… the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council are also the 5 biggest producers of small arms and weapons of mass destruction… nothing like protecting your bottom line. These countries make money by selling death. And one of the first things I learned in Economic, Legal, and Political systems is that when the economy is down get the war machine moving.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Brian Florida — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:00:24 GMT

To those people out there who insist that the crimes that we are talking about are committed by .000000001 percent of the entire muslim population need to consider the math. One accepted figure for total muslim population is 1.2 Billion. Now, .000000001 percent of 1.2 billion is .012 person. I guess what they're trying to say is that someone somewhere in the world spends a bit more than one tenth of their (waking) time at 'jihadi' endeavors.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Naomi - San Francisco Ca — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:01:29 GMT

I hope the parents get to those boys before Jihad does.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Maggie NY NY — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:03:50 GMT

I live in America, land of the free, home of the brave, I may not agree with alot of what Ive read here today, but its a wonderful freedom we have, we can say whatever we want about whatever topic we chose..I want my son to come home from Iraq, I want my nephew home too from afghanastan, I didnt want to lose a brother in vietnam, and I sure didnt want Pearl Harbor to happen on my birthday. But these things did happen, in my lifetime.....I do not want my grandchildren growing up with this hate, after watching this evenings news, and reading further here, Im beginning to change my mind about a few things, I believe we are doing good by being there, I also believe theres a time for war...and maybe its now, maybe bring all our boys & girls home, then give the leaders a choice, Peace, or else.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jill, Minnesota — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:08:04 GMT

Maybe Christianity in the past was violent and bloodthirsty...seems like most religions were that way in the past. Yes, the Crusades were Christians who tried to take back the Holy Lands, but the Christians were there before the Muslims. If we were to take over Mecca today, what would the Muslims do? I've read that underneath some synagagoues of the Middle East are Jewish and Christian temples and churches. One poster said that women are treated as queens...then why are there honor killings? A father and his sons killing the daughter because she was raped, or worse yet, only suspected to no longer be a virgin? Punish the victim even more! The Taliban set very strict laws against women going to school, being out in public without a male relative, etc. If that's being treated like a queen, count me out! I believe that Islam is a religion of peace, but it seems like the vast majority of Muslims have allowed a small number of radicals to hijack the religion of Islam. Why aren't the moderates standing up to these crazies? Probably because they're afraid that the crazies would kill them, too. An aid worker who helped refugees in Europe was told that Muslims who convert to Christianity were deemed "worthy to die". Nice. As to helping out the Middle East and Pakistan (yes, I know it's not part of the Middle East), the U.S. has given more money to other countries than probably any other. What do we get in return? Told that we're meddlers, the rich country,etc. There is no way the US can help other countries without being the bad guys. "Ishmal" says Muslim beliefs are bigger than Christians can imagine. How so? Not all Christians are without blame, but is Islam without faults? We were hated before we entered Afghanistan and Iraq. The US even tried to help Afghanistan free itself from the invading Soviets, only to be turned on after we helped them succeed.If a Christian leader were to get up in his/her church and preach death to Muslims here in America like there are imans who preach death to America/Israel, there'd be a hue and cry. We are told we need to allow others to come to this country, and give them all their religious freedoms and beliefs. We have to accomodate their prayer five times a day, change their job if they don't want to touch packages of pork products, give them special prayer rooms in public areas, etc. If we went to any of the Middle East countries, would they do the same for Christians? I doubt it. Yet American Christians welcome Muslims here, give them special priviledges and classes; yet we're the bad guys. Older countries are so entrenched in their ancient beliefs and customs that they can't change; if they want to better their lives, they need to modernize their behavior and thoughts. Just because you did something one way for 1000 years doesn't mean it's the only way to do it. Times change; people can too.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Sherry Harper — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:17:38 GMT

Golda Meier said it best when she said" There can be no peace until they love their children more than they hate us." What a waste when nations allow the demented, hateful few to turn the heads of the impressionable young...the future of their countries...to follow some foolish idea of glory. I admire any young person who decides to enlist or serve in our nation's military, but when a country uses children in suicide bombing and convinces these young men that this will raise them to paradise, how low can a people sink?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

TB, Miller — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:18:27 GMT

Maybe we do need to back off from the rest of the world for awhile...and that includes monetarily too. We have alot of our own problems and we need to fix US before we can truly help others. (and maybe the rest of the world would see how much they need US). We have our own poor, our own religious extremists, terrorist militia's and such. Are we really such a good example for other nations at this point?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ginger L.A., California — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:25:57 GMT

It's funny to me that people have this opinion of Christians, like it's the only "good" religion. Too bad some of those sweet church going, God loving christains are moonlighting as members of the KKK, and all in the name of JESUS! HMMM not too different from those islamic extremists huh????

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dan, Pittsburgh — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:27:03 GMT

The problem, is that the rich people that are funding these programs would rather brainwash these kids into killing the so called enemy(for basically protecting their own interest in the Middle East and Pakistan)than grow their economy and help their people. They would rather their own people be slaves of poverty and to them.The people that fund these type of programs have enough resources to help their own people. Until they step up to the plate and change their ways or their people rise up against them, we need to help enforce the power of change for those who can't.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

MIKE POGSON SALMON ARM,BC CANADA — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:28:16 GMT

CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG HERE ?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Naeem Ahmed Malik, Karachi, Pakistan — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:35:42 GMT

I am a Muslim Pakistani, does that make me terrorist by creed ? Islam is the religion of peace, and whoever is teaching these guys ways to mass murder is not a muslim himself. Killing one human being means killing the whole humanity in Islam. Suicide Bombers are, and will always be sent to hell, because those who commit suicide, in Islam, are condemned to eternal Hell. So how can a suicide bomber hope to reach Heaven. These misinterpretations about suicide bombers going to Heaven, are made by people who are steeped in religious ignorance, intolerance and ancient tribal customs, customs which the true Islam has banned. What would a teenager, under peer pressure, and also under the psychological pressure of someones rhetoric whome he thinks is more learned in the ways of religion and world do ? I am asking here about impressionable young kids who believe what is told to them by older, seemingly learned men, men who know how to psychologically trap a young mind. What would any teenager do when he knows he has no hope for the future, whose minds horizon hasn't been broadened by education, when someone older and semingly enlightened, who commands respect in his community, comes to them and says "Hey kid! Wanna go to heaven" ?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Rob, Arkansas — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:47:31 GMT

Ok Folks- I read most of this and to me it is simple- Anyone having fuzzy feelings towards these people need to look at our military coming home without limbs, burns or worse off. That should change your mind on aiding these radicals any further by throwing money to the middle east. As for the 2 yound men in question.... just plain sad

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jim, Waxahachie, Tx — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:54:00 GMT

These two kids sound so much like American kids. They are at that age where nothing makes any sence to them, and the fighting there keeps them confused. They have seen so much destruction and lose of life for kids their age. We need to help Irai build a great democracy that will create jobs and hope for kids of that country. All in due time kids like this will discover how good it is to have a purpose in life and will want to continue their education in order to get a good paying job or maybe even starting a business there in order to live a good life. There are no jobs over there for kids like this and they have nothing to keep their minds growing and learning. We need to show them how a democracy works and give them hope for a better future. Our troops need to keep up the good work and hand over a better and more prosperose Iraqi. Victory is not that hard to acheive and is not far off for all of us.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

fat dick, pleasanton, ca — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:54:09 GMT

people are carazy... not just them, everyone. we have stuff like that here in america that you never hear of... what about those...

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Anonomous #2 — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:59:20 GMT

This whole thing is Hitler and the Nazis all over again....

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jim P, Florida — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:02:47 GMT

So many of these posts are truly incredible. We appear to be such a weak people. No wonder those hate filled b*stards have no respect for us.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Morgan, Canada — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:03:26 GMT

maybe we all should have just listened to John Lennon - "whats so wrong with peace, love and understanding" although it seems impossible to achieve in this kind of world with so many ppl and so many different personalities, different cultures ect. but that doesnt mean we cant try, lets start by taking the troops out of Iraq. There is no reason for them to be there, and people need to take a stand, we support any of your anti war/bush veiws here in Canada! peace and light

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Steve Tampa, Fl. — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:09:45 GMT

The value of life is LEARNED in the home from parents and extended family. Most of what we learn about religion usually comes from your family upbringing and what their beliefs are and what religion THEY practice. The parents of these "kids" have failed to instill in their children that these "Jihadist Schools" are nothing more than terrorist camps trying to USE them(the kids) for what they themselves would not do "commit mass murders". That region needs education more than anything else. If power is knowledge, then lets arm them with books, not M-16's. Send books not guns!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Ron Eddicott — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:10:57 GMT

After reading all these comments and watching what is happening in the world lately, I'm so so glad I'm not religious. So much blind faith is needed. Those two teenagers are looking for a purpose in life and those types of people are ripe for religious fanatics to pollute their minds with hate. The fundamentalist Christians in the west are almost as bad. They scream about gays ( didn't God create Gays as well as everyone else, Oh no, I forgot, the devil did it, how convenient ! ) People justify just about anything in the name of religion if they can find a passage in whatever religious book the follow that will vindicate them when persecuting others. Here's a thought. What about just trying common sense. We don't need religion to tell us that killing innocents is wrong, as is abusing children, polluting the environment, being racist, and all the other crimes that humans commit. I think the bottom line is that many people in the world don't want to think for themselves and need someone else to tell them what to think, and if it's a charasmatic religious leader, they are as sheep. I wonder if there is a God and if he's proud of the people he has created.?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dr. Engineer Mohammad Talib Chaudhry PhD; PE(R) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:20:27 GMT

If forces of China or India invade USA, our lovely land, we all would become suicide bombersm if there were no other means to fight. The others are doing the same.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Brian K, Virginia Beach, VA — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:34:47 GMT

The answer is simple and you have to look beyond your own failings to get it. Education. Get one. Get off your pity stool, go to work and put your God given talents to use by learning to be good at what is already inside you. All Gods stand for goodness whether it's Allah, Buddha, or the Great Pumpkin. Those who choose the path of terrorism and violence do so because it's easier to hate those that work harder than you and know more than you, than it is to learn and be good at something.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

BOB ISLIP,NEW YORK — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:41:09 GMT

I AM SICK OF PEOPLE BLAMING US FOR ALL THE WORLDS PROBLEMS.WE ARE THE MOST GIVING NATION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH AND WE ARE HATED FOR IT. THE BLAME FOR THIS FALLS ON THE ISLAMIC COUNTRIES THAT ALLOW THE MALLOHS TO PREACH HATE OF ALL PEOPLE THAT DO NOT BELIVE IN THEIR WAY OF LIFE. PEOPLE MUST WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TO LATE. PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE 3,000 DEAD ON 9/11. THIS IS NOT THE END. THEY WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE ARE ALL DEAD. WE MUST CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT ON THE WAR ON TERROR. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE OUR FRIENDS. WE SHOULD GO IN TO PAKISTAN AND KILL BIN LADIN. WE DON'T NEED PERMISSION TO ACT ON THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS AN ACT OF WAR. AND IF IRAN CONTINUES TO THUMB ITS NOSE AT US WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM TOO. THE DEMACRATS ARE TOO SOFT AND THIS WILL LEAD TO A WAR TO END ALL WARS.GOD BLESS AMERICA.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Is Ignorance Bliss?, MA — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:42:00 GMT

Listen people NO RELIGION IS EVIL. Islam is NOT an evil, violent, racist, and hate filled religion. Wake up people EVERY religion has terrorists. Also doesn't every religion have a bit of blood in it be it in the past, or present. Its not religion that is the problem it is the negative environment that surrounds them, and maybe even bad parenting. All in all NO RELIGION IS EVIL, ANYONE OF ANY RELIGION CAN BE A TERRORIST. Also terrorists use ANYTHING to further their goals be it religion or money or hopes of power in the future. PLEASE PEOPLE THINK FROM A NEUTRAL POINT OF VIEW BEFORE YOU REPLY, SOME OF THESE COMMENTS SEEM REALLY HURTFUL AND FILLED WITH HATE TOWARDS THE MUSLIM PEOPLE.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

John , New Brunswick, NJ — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:49:30 GMT

These are not a peaceloving people simply because of their religion. And of course islamic apologists bend their religions message to make it seem more acceptable to the western world. The western world should take great caution in dismissing this as a peaceful religion that is being corrupted by extremists. Instead it is a deadly religion that corrupts the conscientious minds of otherwise healthy individuals. How many other religions explicitely advise their followers to kill nonmusslims(and not in only the case of invasion rather any nonmuslim in existence). It is one of the only religions that gained followers through the use of brutality and torture. They will not rest until the whole world is under islamic rule. Their economic plight is also based on their cultural backwardness which is directly influenced by their religion. In addition, those who quicly judge the creation of Isreal as inhumane, have obviously never heard of the creation of Pakistan in which many of the Sikh and Hindu(both of whom of course the rest of the world oddly abhors) inhabitants where evicted forcibly through the use of murder. And the occupying muslims also followed their Islamic faith by murduring those who were fleeing as well. And oh course a retaliation by the people of india was seen as horrendous because the pakistani's or our "friends". Perhaps the world would be more convinced or Islam's peaceful nature if the muslim population attempted to contribute to humanity rather that robb it. And saying is not doing the muslims should show us that Islam is peaceful by destroying rather that "denouncing" the fundamentalists. And maybe if they tried to show some more acceptance of differents cultures. This can start by perhaps allowing nonmuslims to visit places like Mecca. However it is highly improbable that any of the above will EVER occur. So yes the teens are not to blame but rather our Western niavety is at fault.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Andrew Jones, Winter Haven, Fla. — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:52:19 GMT

There will never be peace and love for the whole world nor will the whole world ever hate and damn one another.We were given a brain by divin being to choose love or hate. With that said that cycle will never end unless all humanity is wiped from the face of the earth. this two boys are no diferent from anybody else they have already chosen there path but were givin the chance to stray from it. wether they choose to is completly up to them.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Fraz, Ont — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:55:07 GMT

After reading some of the comments above one can see it is not the teaching of the religious books but rather individuals corrupted mind that allows the masterminds at higher levels to succeed in there quest to divide and benefit every time we take a breath. The same higher authorities are pretending to be the Gods of our books and our corrupted mind are responsible for their continued success. Religions are used by higher authorities to dilute goodness within us, our family, country, countries and the sole purpose is to increase the wealth and power of few. These higher authorities belong to no religion, no country, no family but they are well aware of our corrupted mind and will one day replace our true Gods with themselves. Yes, my noble friends, continue to hate each other and feed the devil to success. There is no one to blame but you and I when a young child falls to the hand of misinterpreted jihad, drugs, war, ...

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jassim, Tulsa, OK — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:13:10 GMT

I blame the Muslim parents, what were they doing when their boys were growing up? We raised six children; I had one job, taught them to respect all lives, including insects. Islam and its teaching are clear. Wake up Muslim parents (NOW). I thank Allah (God) for his blessings, Three of my children have PHDs and more on the way. A Muslim should be like an orange, tast, smell, and looks good.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Shaikh, Cary, NC — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:20:37 GMT

All Pakistanis would engage in Jihad against the US if possible. After all it is the Americans that support the unpopular general that is in power there. The "Mush and Bush" as they call it. They feel taht we are rssponsible for the army being in power there.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

John Abraham, Middle East — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:49:32 GMT

911 was a PR disaster for Islam. I do feel utterly sorry for all the victims. And since then the cycle of violence has engulfed us all.... Everytime more innocent civilians die in Iraq, there are many more muslims who are aggrieved at this tragedy. What would you do if your allies were attacked? Stand back and watch? Iam sorry...the sad fact is there was some logic behind attacking Afghanistan...but with Iraq....it is oil to level off your war spending.. Get your president to bring the troops back home......before you wipe Iraq off the world map completely Enough people have died. Close to a million Iraqis..(Is holocaust the rite word to use here?)

How two teens were recruited for jihad

It doesnt matter who I am, or where I'm from. — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:08:25 GMT

It is a real shame that the people who need to be reading these stories, and the people that need to be realizing that they can change their own fates and destinies are the very people who are not allowed to or are unable to read or hear these stories. I agree we should do something to help construct over there... such as education.. but the biggest problem... is that the fighting wont stop. We can build there.. but we cant stop them from tearing it down. What about instead of building a school there.... we offered a chance for a new beginning.. build something far away from there... let them make their own decisions.. if they want to go and learn and live in a communal situation where everyone contributes, and they can work on some sort of industry as well at the same time... then that would be great. If they get tired of it.. we offer them a way to get home. Might be worth it. One would hope that better educated and mentally armed, they would return with a pride to rebuild their homeland. Although they could always return with a bloodlust and more intelligence. who knows....

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Alija, Missouri — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:22:00 GMT

I am disapointed at total and uter ignorance on the part of some of the comentators in this thread. No one should cast his opinion of the things that they know nothing about. As a muslim I know my religion well and to say that it specifically states "kill all nonbelievers" (as one person said) is just stupid. My religion teaches, and I have been thought, from young age to be a peacefull person, value your neighbor and friends no matter their religios beliefs. Opinions of others should not influence your own opinions or your beliefs. Islam is a great religion and I am proud to be a follower of it, however categorizing me with some of these people that commit some of the strangest things is just insulting. Please research your material before speaking of things you only heard people like Pat Roberts talk about who have ulterior motives. As for the heaven deal that is used by the recruiters.... COME ON .. who are they kidding. One must be really messed up in their beliefs to even consider something as a suicide. I have always been thought and have read "Watch yourself and Allah will watch you," it is a simple phrase that in itself says 'You kill yourself you most definetely will not see heaven or virgins for that matter'. I really do not know how these people can persuade a person to kill himself or herself, unless they have a grave situation at home like the 2 boys above. Even them they did not have it bad (paid school by parents, regular studies) what is wrong with that. They are just kids that have been swayed by someone who has a truly sick wiev of the world and how it should operate. Again I will reiterate Islam does not support killing of any sort unless in self defense and suicide is one of the gravest sins you can commit in my religion. I am from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a predominantly Muslim country in Europe and we are not backwater. P.S. those that say its not progressive population(the Muslims) just look at advances in mathematics, physics and other various fields by the people that were and are followers of Islam.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

ginny corpus christi.texas — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:22:02 GMT

Marty in IWOA that is about the stupisest thing i've ever heard of. bring them here give them free college give them places to love oh yes let's do. while there are many many homeless hungry uneducated people right here that are true Americans from birth. college is so expensive that most poor children can't go to college. oh yes there are scholarships. NOT IF YOU ARE A POOR WHITE KID. so lets just bring more people here. to help thats a laugh our goverment doesn't help the kids here . do you wonder why there are gangs and drugs? hello there are many many poor people right here in the good ole USA. i myself went to college a few years ago i owe $13,000 and when i graduated i could only get a job in my line of work paying $5.00 and hour / how can i pay back a s student loan on that. yeah lets bring more people here and give them an education and a home while our own poeple are living on the streets and cities trying to stop the feeding in the homelss in soup kitchens because it causes those people to hang out in those areas hello give me a break. we need to start taking care of our own and stop paying our goverment officals these obsene amount of money to screw us over. sorry had to get that out. GOD BLESS each and every one of you grumpyone 1952

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Bob, Minnesota — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:22:38 GMT

What is it that we are missing? The simple fact that the Muridke madrassa is a target. These places are breeding grounds for the most vile offenders of humanity on the planet Earth. They should be destroyed.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

nate — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:26:30 GMT

I have read through alot of these messages and people say we need to give them economic help and this and that. What people who have not been there dont realize is that the hardcore muslims that believe in suicide bombings want to kill americans irregardless of whether we give them money. We could make them as rich as us and they would still wage jihad.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

smk — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:29:57 GMT

This turmoil is heartbreaking to watch! What happened to respect and love for your neighbor?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Rich Hillbilly, NYC, NY — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:31:44 GMT

Sounds really the same as in the USA, don't our teens fight our wars and don't we recuit at High Schools. Our teens are not allowed to drink, smoke, or vote. Although they are allowed to kill in the name of Freedom, or to protect our American Interest. Who is to Judge who Judge, and where's the Justice in either situation.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

R R Kentucky — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:51:44 GMT

Before anyone can teach anybody else anything, they have to be walking on the path they promise they can provide. How can we teach these extremists that violence and aggression is not the answer when we can not even teach our own children the same thing? We talk about the extremists like they are children who need guidance, but I believe the only difference between them and us is that our laws keep us in check, usually. People in general are prone to give in to group mentality and chaos whenever they are allowed or encouraged too. I think hypocrisy will be our downfall.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mark S, Boston MA — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:00:38 GMT

Its a simple debate. Religion is irrelevant. I don't care that the Muslim extremists don't like us - thier God given right. If they threaten to kill us, regardless of justification, they are wrong. The fact is that in Iraq the kill more of their own. How do they justify that. If Muslims want a religion respected by the world, its religious tenents must show respect for the dignity of life.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

B Towe sr — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:08:47 GMT

We see this kind of recruitment tactic here at home from gang-bangers, drug dealers and other low-life scum ,the sad truth is this the young in our world who have not yet learned to reason and resist , will always be prone to becoming a victim to this kind of deception. Those who are doing the recruiting need to be served justice with ferocity.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

combatvet, Texas — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:14:31 GMT

Their ideology is completely different then ours. Question for the masses...If the Chinese or Iranians or anyone else for that matter came to America, told us that their way is the law, stationed armed troops in your backyard..Would you be a terrorist? Would our high school kids pick up the fight? Makes ya wonder

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jaqasia — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:39:28 GMT

I wish I was born in a different era, I don't much like this one anymore. I wish the people would just rise up and stop all of this. I can't understand why the people won't stand up and band together. Americans might be alot of things, but we stand beside each other. People helped people when Katrina hit, not the government. We were there for each other when no one else was. I know its not on the same scale, but when is enough going to be enough for the people suffering?

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Alex F Chavez, Carol Stream,Il — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:47:46 GMT

To John T. Puffer, Baytown, TX. Reference your posted message earlier:" This is another example of how weak- minded the People of this religion really are. How anyone could use, and allow their children to be used, for such a purpose." You may want to re-think posting such an ignorant statement in the future as you fail to realize(& as a fellow Christian familiar with the history of Christianity in our world, I know this to be true)how more blood has been shed in the "Name of Christ" than ALL other religions combined. Either you forget the ugly truth of manipulation or you simply lack sufficient knowledge of what has occurred in the past 2000 years. It's not surprising, of course, when you consider the censored education we receive about certain facts. However take a look at Spain's colonization of the America's...countless historical treasures were lost when the Conquistadors decided to destroy the "Satan worshipping" societies of the Mayan to spread Christianity. Or look at the several hundred years of Crusades which were romantically portrayed by Hollywood in "Kingdom of Heaven" & how about the Nazi inflicted pain during WWII. On many occasions, innocent Christians, fell prey to the ideology of "Our Faith is Truth" & were essentially brain-washed into taking the lives of others. So before you bark your ignorance around the world, take a moment & think about what you're going to say before you follow suit & sound like you're "brain-washed" yourself. Take care,

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Don, Brea, Ca — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:05:27 GMT

Another example of manipulation cooptation strategy. It's all part of human nature. We’ve learned it from our cribs as babies. It’s all part of a course to control society. Depending on the eco-cultural and religious history of people, their leaders will utilize the human resources to its benefit. America is no different. We talk about ‘equal rights’. If our rights were equal then why is there such disparity between our tax structure, retirement benefits and medical care? I’m not condoning the behavior of seemingly radical people, just sharing some thoughts of my own. Psalms 118:8. In God we Trust.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Carl, Higden AR — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:13:06 GMT

OK, we know where the terrorist are trained and who is doing it. Why are they still alive to direct the murder of innocents and why is the building still standing??

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Rich, Chester PA — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:23:02 GMT

This situation is a true conundrum. If we don't give them aid/food/money then they hate us for not sharing. If we give them aid/food/money they hate us for corrupting their country/religion/culture. We have tried many options with these cultures, both aggresive and passive. I truly feel the only way to help these societies to change is to use social avenues. The dropping of video games is not a bad start. If we innundate them with Western Culture, they will begin to want to change on their own. The changes must come from inside the country, not from outside. It must be a decision made by the people who live there. We need to find a way to educate them that goes beyond or around the people in control. We must get this information directly to the "common" people, the middle class, or what ever you want to call them. It will take time, a lot of time. The children of our children's children may see the end to this story.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Eddy,Tucson,AZ — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:32:29 GMT

At the beginning the boy said “We were told to fight against Israel, America”, is anyone know why?? Why Israel, America not Japan and china or Russia, those are Non- Muslim country's

How two teens were recruited for jihad

demano,Lahore,Pakistan — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:46:59 GMT

ISI administers and supports all the religious outfits. ISI reports to Musharraf. Aslong as the western world suppports dictators, we will have wars. If the west invests in democracy, things will change.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Marie A. Charleston, SC — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:52:48 GMT

I wish we could solve this thing as simply as winning hearts and minds but unfortunately this is a radical perverted ideology and those who practice it are brainwashing generations of children. There are many good Muslims that want peace who do not believe this perversion of their faith, but unfortunately the radicals are spreading their beliefs faster and wider than anyone can control. Let us remember that we have been attacked in this country twice with no provocation on our part and several times abroad with no provocation well before the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq. There are other countries around the world who have been attacked with no provocation. It is naive to think that by negotiating and trying to be peaceful that we have any guarantee that these people will stop. Their stated goal is global jihad and they believe that non Muslims are vermin, therefore killing is justified since they are inhuman. It is like trying to reason with David Koresh or the Jones fanatic who had all his followers drink cyanide, except there are far more David Koresh or Jones type jihadists. These are scarey times and I think it is time that Americans started to realize what we are up against. We have not been attacked since 9-11 only because our Homeland security and security agencies under this administration have been on the ball. I fear that with a more liberal executive in office and some of those controls loosened due to civil liberties concerns, we will see more 9-11 type attacks. If they can do it so easily in Iraq, we are naive to think with our free society and resources it could not happen again in the US. God help us.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Don Brea Ca — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:55:34 GMT

THIS IS QUITE LONG, IF YOU CAN'T READ IT NOW, SET IT ASIDE AS IT GIVES INSIGHT INTO WHAT IS OCCURING WORLDWIDE AS TO DEMOGRAPHICS AND ECONOMIES.......BUT BE SURE AND READ IT. Subject: WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? A GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING FOR CEOS Classification: UNCLASSIFIED BACKGROUND ON AUTHOR: Herb Meyer served during the Reagan administration as special assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence and Vice Chairman of the CIA's National Intelligence Council. In these positions, he managed production of the U.S. National Intelligence Estimates and other top-secret projections for the President and his national security advisers. Meyer is widely credited with being the first senior U.S. Government official to forecast the Soviet Union's collapse, for which he later was awarded the U.S. National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the intelligence community's highest honor. Formerly an associate editor of FORTUNE, he is also the author of several books. FOUR MAJOR TRANSFORMATIONS Currently, there are four major transformations that are shaping political, economic and world events. These transformations have profound implications for American business owners, our culture and our way of life. 1. The War in Iraq There are three major monotheistic religions in the world: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. In the 16th century, Judaism and Christianity reconciled with the modern world. The rabbis, priests and scholars found a way to settle up and pave the way forward. Religion remained at the center of life, church and state became separate. Rule of law, idea of economic liberty, individual rights, human Rights-all these are defining points of modern Western civilization. These concepts started with the Greeks but didn't take off until the 15th and 16th century when Judaism and Christianity found a way to reconcile with the modern world. When that happened, it unleashed the scientific revolution and the greatest outpouring of art, literature and music the world has ever known. Islam, which developed in the 7th century, counts millions of Moslems around the world who are normal people. However, there is a radical streak within Islam. When the radicals are in charge, Islam attacks Western civilization. Islam first attacked Western civilization in the 7th century, and later in the 16th and 17th centuries. By 1683, the Moslems (Turks from the Ottoman Empire) were literally at the gates of Vienna. It was in Vienna that the climatic battle between Islam and Western civilization took place. The West won and went forward. Islam lost and went backward. Interestingly, the date of that battle was September 11. Since them, Islam has not found a way to reconcile with the modern world. Today, terrorism is the third attack on Western civilization by radical Islam. To deal with terrorism, the U.S. is doing two things. First, units of our armed forces are in 30 countries around the world hunting down terrorist groups and dealing with them. This gets very little publicity. Second we are taking military action in Afghanistan and Iraq. These are covered relentlessly by the media. People can argue about whether the war in Iraq is right or wrong. However, the underlying strategy behind the war is to use our military to remove the radicals from power and give the moderates a chance. Our hope is that, over time, the moderates will find a way to bring Islam forward into the 21st century. That's what our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is all about. The lesson of 9/11 is that we live in a world where a small number of people can kill a large number of people very quickly. They can use airplanes, bombs, anthrax, chemical weapons or dirty bombs. Even with a first-rate intelligence service (which the U.S. does not have), you can't stop every attack. That means our tolerance for political horseplay has dropped to zero. No longer will we play games with terrorists or weapons of mass destructions. Most of the instability and horseplay is coming from the Middle East. That's why we have thought that if we could knock out the radicals and give the moderates a chance to hold power, they might find a way to reconcile Islam with the modern world. So when looking at Afghanistan or Iraq, it's important to look for any signs that they are modernizing. For example, women being brought into the workforce and colleges in Afghanistan is good. The Iraqis stumbling toward a constitution is good. People can argue about what the U.S. is doing and how we're doing it, but anything that suggests Islam is finding its way forward is good. 2. The Emergence of China In the last 20 years, China has moved 250 million people from the farms and villages into the cities. Their plan is to move another 300 million in the next 20 years. When you put that many people into the cities, you have to find work for them. That is why China is addicted to manufacturing; they have to put all the relocated people to work. When we decide to manufacture something in the U.S., it's based on market needs and the opportunity to make a profit. In China, they make the decision because they want the jobs, which is a very different calculation. While China is addicted to manufacturing, Americans are addicted to low prices. As a result, a unique kind of economic codependency has developed between the two countries. If we ever stop buying from China, they will explode politically. If China stops selling to us, our economy will take a huge hit because prices will jump. We are subsidizing their economic development; they are subsidizing our economic growth. Because of their huge growth in manufacturing, China is hungry for raw materials, which drives prices up worldwide. China is also thirsty for oil, which is one reason oil is now at $60 a barrel. By 2020, China will produce more cars than the U.S. China is also buying its way into the oil infrastructure around the world. They are doing it in the open market and paying fair market prices, but millions of barrels of oil that would have gone to the U.S. are now going to China. China's quest to assure it has the oil it needs to fuel its economy is a major factor in world politics and economics. We have our Navy fleets protecting the sea lines, specifically the ability to get the tankers through. It won't be long before the Chinese have an aircraft carrier sitting in the Persian Gulf as well. The question is, will their aircraft carrier be pointing in the same direction as ours or against us? 3. Shifting Demographics of Western Civilization Most countries in the Western world have stopped breeding. For a civilization obsessed with sex, this is remarkable. Maintaining a steady population requires a birth rate of 2.1. In Western Europe, the birth rate currently stands at 1.5, or 30 percent below replacement. In 30 years there will be 70 to 80 million fewer Europeans than there are today. The current birth rate in Germany is 1.3. Italy and Spain are even lower at 1.2. At that rate, the working age population declines by 30 percent in 20 years, which has a huge impact on the economy. When you don't have young workers to replace the older ones, you have to import them. The European countries are currently importing Moslems. Today, the Moslems comprise 10 percent of France and Germany, and the percentage is rising rapidly because they have higher birthrates. However, the Moslem populations are not being integrated into the cultures of their host countries, which is a political catastrophe. One reason Germany and France don't support the Iraq war is they fear their Moslem populations will explode on them. By 2020, more than half of all births in the Netherlands will be non-European. The huge design flaw in the post-modern secular state is that you need a traditional religious society birth rate to sustain it. The Europeans simply don't wish to have children, so they are dying. In Japan, the birthrate is 1.3. As a result, Japan will lose up to 60 million people over the next 30 years. Because Japan has a very different society than Europe, they refuse to import workers. Instead, they are just shutting down. Japan has already closed 2000 schools, and is closing them down at the rate of 300 per year. Japan is also aging very rapidly. By 2020, one out of every five Japanese will be at least 70 years old. Nobody has any idea about how to run an economy with those demographics. Europe and Japan, which comprise two of the world's major economic engines, aren't merely in recession, they're shutting down. This will have a huge impact on the world economy, and it is already beginning to happen. Why are the birthrates so low? There is a direct correlation between abandonment of traditional religious society and a drop in birth rate, and Christianity in Europe is becoming irrelevant. The second reason is economic. When the birth rate drops below replacement, the population ages. With fewer working people to support more retired people, it puts a crushing tax burden on the smaller group of working age people. As a result, young people delay marriage and having a family. Once this trend starts, the downward spiral only gets worse. These countries have abandoned all the traditions they formerly held in regards to having families and raising children. The U.S. birth rate is 2.0, just below replacement. We have an increase in population because of immigration. When broken down by ethnicity, the Anglo birth rate is 1.6 (same as France) while the Hispanic birth rate is 2.7. In the U.S., the baby boomers are starting to retire in massive numbers. This will push the elder dependency ratio from 19 to 38 over the next 10 to 15 years. This is not as bad as Europe, but still represents the same kind of trend. Western civilization seems to have forgotten what every primitive society understands-you need kids to have a healthy society. Children are huge consumers. Then they grow up to become taxpayers. That's how a society works, but the post-modern secular state seems to have forgotten that. If U.S. birth rates of the past 20 to 30 years had been the same as post-World War II, there would be no Social Security or Medicare problems. The world's most effective birth control device is money. As society creates a middle class and women move into the workforce, birth rates drop. Having large families is incompatible with middle class living. The quickest way to drop the birth rate is through rapid economic development. After World War II, the U.S. instituted a $600 tax credit per child. The idea was to enable mom and dad to have four children without being troubled by taxes. This led to a baby boom of 22 million kids, which was a huge consumer market that turned into a huge tax base. However, to match that incentive in today's dollars would cost $12,000 per child. China and India do not have declining populations. However, in both countries, there is a preference for boys over girls, and we now have the technology to know which is which before they are born. In China and India, many families are aborting the girls. As a result, in each of these countries there are 70 million boys growing up who will never find wives. When left alone, nature produces 103 boys for every 100 girls. In some provinces, however, the ratio is 128 boys to every 100 girls. The birth rate in Russia is so low that by 2050 their population will be smaller than that of Yemen. Russia has one-sixth of the earth's land surface and much of its oil. You can't control that much area with such a small population. Immediately to the south, you have China with 70 million unmarried men; are a real potential nightmare scenario for Russia. 4. Restructuring of American Business The fourth major transformation involves a fundamental restructuring of American business. Today's business environment is very complex and competitive. To succeed, you have to be the best, which means having the highest quality and lowest cost. Whatever your price point, you must have the best quality and lowest price. To be the best, you have to concentrate on one thing. You can't be all things to all people and be the best. A generation ago, IBM used to make every part of their computer. Now Intel makes the chips, Microsoft makes the software, and someone else makes the modems, hard drives, monitors, etc. IBM even outsources their call center. Because IBM has all these companies supplying goods and services cheaper and better than they could do it themselves, they can make a better computer at a lower cost. This is called a fracturing of business. When one company can make a better product by relying on others to perform functions the business used to do itself, it creates a complex pyramid of companies that serve and support each other. This fracturing of American business is now in its second generation. The companies who supply IBM are now doing the same thing-outsourcing many of their core services and production process. As a result, they can make cheaper, better products. Over time, this pyramid continues to get bigger and bigger. Just when you think it can't fracture again, it does. Even very small businesses can have a large pyramid of corporate entities that perform many of its important functions. One aspect of this trend is that companies end up with fewer employees and more independent contractors. This trend has also created two new words in business, "integrator" and "complementor." At the top of the pyramid, IBM is the integrator. As you go down the pyramid, Microsoft, Intel and the other companies that support IBM are the complementors. However, each of the complementors is itself an integrator for the complementors underneath it. This has several implications, the first of which is that we are now getting false readings on the economy. People who used to be employees are now independent contractors launching their own businesses. There are many people working whose work is not listed as a job. As a result, the economy is perking along better than the numbers are telling us. Outsourcing also confused the numbers. Suppose a company like General Motors decides to outsource all its employee cafeteria functions to Marriott (which it did). It lays off hundreds of cafeteria workers, who then get hired right back by Marriott. The only thing that has changed is that these people work for Marriott rather than GM. Yet, the headlines will scream that America has lost more manufacturing jobs. All that really happened is that these workers are now reclassified as service workers. So the old way of counting jobs contributes to false economic readings. As yet, we haven't figured out how to make the numbers catch up with the changing realities of the business world. Another implication of this massive restructuring is that because companies are getting rid of units and people that used to work for them, the entity is smaller. As the companies get smaller and more efficient, revenues are going down but profits are going up. As a result, the old notion that revenues are up and we're doing great isn't always the case anymore. Companies are getting smaller but are becoming more efficient and profitable in the process. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOUR TRANSFORMATIONS 1. The War in Iraq In some ways, the war is going very well. Afghanistan and Iraq have the beginnings of a modern government, which is a huge step forward. The Saudis are starting to talk about some good things, while Egypt and Lebanon are beginning to move in a good direction. A series of revolutions have taken place in countries like Ukraine and Georgia. There will be more of these revolutions for an interesting reason. In every revolution, there comes a point where the dictator turns to the general and says, "Fire into the crowd." If the general fires into the crowd, it stops the revolution. If the general says "No," the revolution is over. Increasingly, the generals are saying "No" because their kids are in the crowd. Thanks to TV and the Internet, the average 18-year old outside the U.S. is very savvy about what is going on in the world, especially in terms of popular culture. There is a huge global consciousness, and young people around the world want to be a part of it. It is increasingly apparent to them that the miserable government where they live is the only thing standing in their way. More and more, it is the well-educated kids, the children of the generals and the elite, who are leading the revolutions. At the same time, not all is well with the war. The level of violence in Iraq is much worse and doesn't appear to be improving. It's possible that we're asking too much of Islam all at one time. We're trying to jolt them from the 7th century to the 21st century all at once, which may be further than they can go. They might make it and they might not. Nobody knows for sure. The point is, we don't know how the war will turn out. Anyone who says they know is just guessing. The real place to watch is Iran. If they actually obtain nuclear weapons it will be a terrible situation. There are two ways to deal with it. The first is a military strike, which will be very difficult. The Iranians have dispersed their nuclear development facilities and put them underground. The U.S. has nuclear weapons that can go under the earth and take out those facilities, but we don't want to do that. The other way is to separate the radical mullahs from the government, which is the most likely course of action. Seventy percent of the Iranian population is under 30. They are Moslem but not Arab. They are mostly pro-Western. Many experts think the U.S. should have dealt with Iran before going to war with Iraq. The problem isn't so much the weapons, it's the people who control them. If Iran has a moderate government, the weapons become less of a concern. We don't know if we will win the war in Iraq. We could lose or win. What we're looking for is any indicator that Islam is moving into the 21st century and stabilizing. 2. China It may be that pushing 500 million people from farms and villages into cities is too much too soon. Although it gets almost no publicity, China is experiencing hundreds of demonstrations around the country, which is unprecedented. These are not students in Tiananmen Square. These are average citizens who are angry with the government for building chemical plants and polluting the water they drink and the air they breathe. The Chinese are a smart and industrious people. They may be able to pull it off and become a very successful economic and military superpower. If so, we will have to learn to live with it. If they want to share the responsibility of keeping the world's oil lanes open, that's a good thing. They currently have eight new nuclear electric power generators under way and 45 on the books to build. Soon, they will leave the U.S. way behind in their ability to generate nuclear power. What can go wrong with China? For one, you can't move 550 million people into the cities without major problems. Two, China really wants Taiwan, not so much for economic reasons, they just want it. The Chinese know that their system of communism can't survive much longer in the 21st century. The last thing they want to do before they morph into some sort of more capitalistic government is to take over Taiwan. We may wake up one morning and find they have launched an attack on Taiwan. If so, it will be a mess, both economically and militarily. The U.S. has committed to the military defense of Taiwan. If China attacks Taiwan, will we really go to war against them? If the Chinese generals believe the answer is no, they may attack. If we don't defend Taiwan, every treaty the U.S. has will be worthless. Hopefully, China won't do anything stupid. 3. Demographics Europe and Japan are dying because their populations are aging and shrinking. These trends can be reversed if the young people start breeding. However, the birth rates in these areas are so low it will take two generations to turn things around. No economic model exists that permits 50 years to turn things around. Some countries are beginning to offer incentives for people to have bigger families. For example, Italy is offering tax breaks for having children. However, it's a lifestyle issue versus a tiny amount of money. Europeans aren't willing to give up their comfortable lifestyles in order to have more children. In general, everyone in Europe just wants it to last a while longer. Europeans have a real talent for living. They don't want to work very hard. The average European worker gets 400 more hours of vacation time per year than Americans. They don't want to work and they don't want to make any of the changes needed to revive their economies. The summer after 9/11, France lost 15,000 people in a heat wave. In August, the country basically shuts down when everyone goes on vacation. That year, a severe heat wave struck and 15,000 elderly people living in nursing homes and hospitals died. Their children didn't even leave the beaches to come back and take care of the bodies. Institutions had to scramble to find enough refrigeration units to hold the bodies until people came to claim them. This loss of life was five times bigger than 9/11 in America, yet it didn't trigger any change in French society. When birth rates are so low, it creates a tremendous tax burden on the young. Under those circumstances, keeping mom and dad alive is not an attractive option. That's why euthanasia is becoming so popular in most European countries. The only country that doesn't permit (and even encourage) euthanasia is Germany, because of all the baggage from World War II. The European economy is beginning to fracture. The Euro is down. Countries like Italy are starting to talk about pulling out of the European Union because it is killing them. When things get bad economically in Europe, they tend to get very nasty politically. The canary in the mine is anti-Semitism. When it goes up, it means trouble is coming. Current levels of anti-Semitism are higher than ever. Germany won't launch another war, but Europe will likely get shabbier, more dangerous and less pleasant to live in. Japan has a birth rate of 1.3 and has no intention of bringing in immigrants. By 2020, one out of every five Japanese will be 70 years old. Property values in Japan have dropped every year for the past 14 years. The country is simply shutting down. In the U.S. we also have an aging population. Boomers are starting to retire at a massive rate. These retirements will have several major impacts: Possible massive sell-off of large four-bedroom houses and a movement to condos. An enormous drain on the treasury. Boomers vote, and they want their benefits, even if it means putting a crushing tax burden on their kids to get them. Social Security will be a huge problem. As this generation ages, it will start to drain the system. We are the only country in the world where there are no age limits on medical procedures. An enormous drain on the health care system. This will also increase the tax burden on the young, which will cause them to delay marriage and having families, which will drive down the birth rate even further. Although scary, these demographics also present enormous opportunities for products and services tailored to aging populations. There will be tremendous demand for caring for older people, especially those who don't need nursing homes but need some level of care. Some people will have a business where they take care of three or four people in their homes. The demand for that type of service and for products to physically care for aging people will be huge. Make sure the demographics of your business are attuned to where the action is. For example, you don't want to be a baby food company in Europe or Japan. Demographics are much underrated as an indicator of where the opportunities are. Businesses need customers. Go where the customers are. 4. Restructuring of American Business The restructuring of American business means we are coming to the end of the age of the employer and employee. With all this fracturing of businesses into different and smaller units, employers can't guarantee jobs anymore because they don't know what their companies will look like next year. Everyone is on their way to becoming an independent contractor. The new workforce contract will be, a show up at the my office five days a week and do what I want you to do, but you handle your own insurance, benefits, health care and everything else. Husbands and wives are becoming economic units. They take different jobs and work different shifts depending on where they are in their careers and families. They make tradeoffs to put together a compensation package to take care of the family. This used to happen only with highly educated professionals with high incomes. Now it is happening at the level of the factory floor worker. Couples at all levels are designing their compensation packages based on their individual needs. The only way this can work is if everything is portable and flexible, which requires a huge shift in the American economy. The U.S. is in the process of building the world's first 21st century model economy. The only other countries doing this are U.K. and Australia. The model is fast, flexible, highly productive and unstable in that it is always fracturing and re-fracturing. This will increase the economic gap between the U.S. and everybody else, especially Europe and Japan. At the same time, the military gap is increasing. Other than China, we are the only country that is continuing to put money into their military. Plus, we are the only military getting on-the-ground military experience through our war in Iraq. We know which high-tech weapons are working and which ones aren't. There is almost no one who can take us on economically or militarily. There has never been a superpower in this position before. On the one hand, this makes the U.S. a magnet for bright and ambitious people. It also makes us a target. We are becoming one of the last holdouts of the traditional Judeo-Christian culture. There is no better place in the world to be in business and raise children. The U.S. is by far the best place to have an idea, form a business and put it into the marketplace. We take it for granted, but it isn't as available in other countries of the world. Ultimately, it's an issue of culture. The only people who can hurt us are ourselves, by losing our culture. If we give up our Judeo-Christian culture, we become just like the Europeans. The culture war is the whole ballgame. If we lose it, there isn't another America to pull us out.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Doug C San Diego, CA — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:56:39 GMT

I have an easy solution. Just have a redistribution of all of the Hollywood wealth. Lets have Sean Penn etc. donate all of their millions (I do mean all) to help rise these people out of poverty. These loud elites can then live like normal guys and I won't have to hear these sad stories.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

JayTeeCash,AZ — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:58:01 GMT

This world would be the best of worlds with no religion in it.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

James, Perris, CA — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:04:15 GMT

there is possibly no way we can realixe how thse people feel because we, as americans, are not all muslim and do not know the deep belief systems that they have. and the same goes for them. these holy wars that these young boys are going on are blinding them from what they are really doing, killing and injuring people. living beings just like themselves. no different physically, only geographically. as "Humans", we pust see past colors, religions, cultures, and socila classes to understand people. and when we understand them, we will see how alike we all are and that such wars are not holy at all. these jihads are just like the concentration camps of natzi germany, getting rid of the un-pure races for they were not worthy of one "superior race...."

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Terrence Chevalier, Mesa, AZ — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:30:29 GMT

Why are we over there trying to help them in the first place. Its not just Bush, but the majority of the politicians both republican and democrat that have got our nation into this mess. To hell with their finger pointing and denial. Bill Clinton did absolutely nothing to stop the jihad, and Bush has done nothing but to stir up a hornets nest. Yes, we need to pull out of Iraq and let the settle their difference, and we need to begin taking a much closer look at the over population of muslems and the organization here in the U.S. because it is well known at least one-third of them are radicals and awaiting the opportunity to harm us. Also then liberal news media is for too much concerned about establishing their brand of leberialism, and not to actually care about the Republic. The blame is with the majority of us because we are more concerned about pleasures and leasaures than we are with making government responsible for their lies and failures.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Dion Kim, Inglewood, CA — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 05:40:32 GMT

The religion of Islam has nothing to do with any of this. Criminals and gangsters in those countries may claim to be using religion of Islam, just as the Nazis claimed to be using Christianity as theirs. The difference is that OUR media wants to make Islam look bad by presenting articles in this way to us. When will we wake up and realize that Islam is too big of a religion for us to try to marginalize and scare others from (and what do we stand to gain from trying to present such an image)? Accept it as a major world religion. Muslims are everywhere, contributing to society just like everyone else. Most of the ones I've met here in the US are just trying to live a happy life with their family, practice a religion freely that teaches them pretty much the same exact doctrine as Christianity (Love they Neighbor, be charitable, help the needy, visit the sick, be honest in business and respect others of all faiths and races). Look at 99% of Muslims and stop looking at 1% of them who are criminals. Those 99% are not saying kill infidels, in fact they are more tolerant of other faiths than most Christians I know. Muslims say they are not even supposed to be converting others, because the Koran says "there is no compulsion in religion" so if 1% of them choose to corrupt their teachings and become gangsters and criminals why are we so ridiculously naive and ignorant to blame the whole religion? We owe a lot to Muslims amongst us contributing to our society, they are probably among the most decent and hardworking Americans.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

kansas — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:04:44 GMT

first of all islam doesn't teach to kill innocent people or to harm.the religion of islam teaches respect how to respect elderly youngers women neibours and also the human rights for all.look our sociaty in america tenaagers joining to gang members selling drags and even people killing themself after they loose all the hope and the opportunity this great country in the world has.compare to other countries the media mentioned pakistan it has large population and less oppotunity.we wont have to be surpriced when we see someone killing themself.everything hapens for a reason when it hapens i believe it is better to look and to understand what had really caused(as we say why it happened and how it happened)this will be the best questions to ask for ourself.instead for us jumbing on a conclution or negative view.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

security — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:34:51 GMT

We were told it is our choice to become a freedom fighter or a suicide bomber We wanted to go to the Muridke madrassa so we would have a better life in the hereafter That last comment explains why they chose suicide bombing over freedom fighting

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Mac Denial — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:02:52 GMT

This is no different. Same age youth are recruited in US, Israel and UK to fight against Muslims. They are Trained in same kind of camps. Only difference is the State Support of US, UK and Isreal. And why the Pakistani/Afghan Muslims should not go to Jehad. They are under Military Dictatorships. The dictators are working right under the US command and control. There is no democracy. only Law is Law of GUN. and US have Heavy Militray bases in these countries for many years. How would they refute Jehad when they look so much attrocities by Foerign Army in their countries.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

George Kpahntee Yarkpa — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:34:55 GMT

People who indoctrinate kids to destroy innocent people have no biblical or spiritual justification. They are clinically sick. The western world, America in particular has suffered a lot just to make the world a safe place for us all. Their suffering will be rewarded and the struggle should continue against those wicked people who are fighting their so-called jadhid war. They will not succeed. The will be crashed. Bravo to all Americans and the rest of the western world.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Kope F. Honolulu HI — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:46:46 GMT

This is a sad reality that's happening all over the world. Like someone said before, this is no difference than what's going on in the US, as young kids are turning into gangs, and do all sorts of bad stuff, all because they're not given a constructive purpose. Any government needs to engage its youth with activities that will keep them occupied. Government programs, or community programs that will help keep kids off the streets, and away from being recruited to do horrific acts, must be one of the top priorities of any governmentor community. Every leaders of every organization keeps preaching about how our youths are the leaders of tomorrow, but everyday, we fail to provide our youths with the tools, the knowledge, and the education to take them there. We can keep killing gangsters, thieves, murderers, and terrorist, but they aren't the real enemies. They are the byproduct of the root cause of the problem, which is us, any government and any community. The real enemy is us, every government and community is responsible for these youths, and if we don't show them the way, they will find their own, or follow someone that has a better sounded plan. We must not neglect our youths, as any adult will know that at this time of their life, they're learning things, and we must show them some good options to learn before an evil person will get to them first. The world's youth do listen, and if all our government leaders, community leaders, as well as parents will take the time to show our youths important life is, the chances of our youths growing up and become someone that is evil to society is very slim.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

London — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:20:50 GMT

The concept that other religions/peoples are responsible for all the woes in your world is a simple and seductive one. However, it is only an idea. Ideas themselves are not dangerous until they become ideologies. Yes, we have to fight the organisations and weapons behind these crimes, but we also have to fight the idea. There is more than enough material in Islamic text to counter this. We should have a Department of Ideas along with a Department of Defense.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jeff Webber, Boston, MA — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:18:10 GMT

Although I am an atheist I feel the need to counteract the blatant stupidity of the left when they claim its' religion that causes all the world's problems and wars. Here is a few examples of history's greatest mass murderers, none of whom based it on their religious beliefs and in fact, the majority were communists/socialists i.e. left wing beliefs: Hitler 40 million dead; stalin 20 million dead; mao 20 million dead; the Jong father and son combo in north korea estimated 10 million starved so far; idi amin 5 million; khmer rouge 5 million. Nuf said. On the present subject: islam is the enemy of America. Simple fact. While not every muslim is a believer in radical islam, they allow those that do believe to control islam. Not every German was a nazi, but they're all responsible for the camps.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:22:14 GMT

Their lives are filled with hopelessness and a desire for a better life in the here after. That is what budding jihadists seek when they join the club of suicide bombers. We, as a very large group of potential targets,

How two teens were recruited for jihad

D. J. — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:55:05 GMT

It is not right for the rich and powerful to use religion as a tool to exploit just to make themselves "greater". Killing others is NOT what any god wants. Christianity/Islam...violence between them makes no leader greater in the eyes off God.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

A.T. — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:23:16 GMT

As a Muslim American - I will tell you this much Jihad in the way these people are taught is simply WRONG - no way does Islam teach such hate infact Suicide is against our religion - Where these people get it from I dont understand. Jihad in the time of the Prophet (PBUH) was a war and a war has religious rules --- if you are attacking - you must give them fair warning - as the Prophet did --- Its mearly a war between Men - Women are not to be around nor children are to be affected- even distruction of Trees and plants are not allowed - but that is back in time not in our time.... Self Jihad is to overcome evil within --- Attaching people for no reason and people that have no defense: is totally against ISLAM. As a Muslim I dont understand how brian washed some of these people are --- Its scary --- But there is a Saying by the Prophet " Dont look at Muslims (ppl) Look at Islam. Dont Follow Muslims Follow Islam.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jason Conn, Tarkio, MISSOURI — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:40:45 GMT

Most of these people think they have all the answers,I only have one thing to say,Be strong enough in yourself to ignore outside forces of others and think for yourself people,THAT is what EVERYONE in the WORLD NEEDS TO DO. stop listening to the lies and THINK IT THROUGH.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Robin Cole, Id — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:48:35 GMT

What is sad in all of this is all those two young boys would of got is death and no better life whatsoever. The only one who would of benifited was the one who recruited these young boys. No one looks at suicide bombers as heros all they do is destroy their selfh along with innocent victims some of them children tis is not heroic so very sad that this is what our world has come to.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Riaz, Seattle, Washington — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:57:10 GMT

There are those who say find this place and destroy it, because it is a threat to us. Perhaps that is what those men who recruited these boys were thinking also. They find USA a threat to them. Indiscriminate bombings, support for dictators, pumping monies only to be siphoned off by politicians adds to this. Afghanistan could have been used to create a model state. Have you noticed how after each Iraq war, US starts the "middle east peace process". Why does it not start it BEFORE the war ? There is something fundamentally wrong with US foreign policy. It does not reflect desires of millions of Americans, but it does put them at risk.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

john florida — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:04:41 GMT

DON BREA CA.what you wrote is the absolute truth, without politics !! It is in our best interest for all to read what this man has to say, it's long but it is a must read. COMMON SENSE and no window dressing. thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How two teens were recruited for jihad

R H Kokoodan — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:31:52 GMT

Thr plight of these two teenagers is pathethic. What's more pathethtic is America's involvement in Iraq. Either America leaves Iraq alone, now, or continue this fight in Iraq until complete victory is obtained. I see no sense in this except using the Iraq war as a political issue to further someone's political ambitions either as a democrat or aa a republican.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Angel, Brooklyn, NY — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:44:28 GMT

war is not the answer to any of these problems, terrorism is obviously wrong just as going into another country and blowing up cities along with innocent civilians, in the name of "freedom", is also wrong. Thousands of people killed at war and for what, it has only heated the fury for thousands more to be killed. The Democrats are 100 percent right in fighting to have our troops brought home.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Chris in sunny Miami — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:22:18 GMT

Each country has a special way of fighting war. And if the U.S.A. is fighting a war they use whatever tactic that will lead down the road for a brighter pocket book for the elites before you know it we'll have trading cards with fighters names on with all of the specifics #of kills medals what they drive what weapons used and so forth lets not forget injuries.Thatwill make alot of our younger people want to go to war and fight for this world country in hopes of maybe getting a hero stamp on the card. When a person is sent to a place to fight they see thier comrades dying or blown up they adjust and must be ruthless much more than the people that they are fighting in Palestine they use slingshots rocks in other places machetes clubs you use what you have to protect yourself if a kid is getting beat up every day by someone they cannot beat they take an alternate route or bring a knife or gun to school anything to avoid the beating does a suicide bomber have a right to take the lives they do?Well does anyone have a right to take a life ?What is the difference between a religion that people are willing to die for thier cause whatever the element may be and a religion that for instance allows political people to frequent their pews in turn making them look like a good upstanding Christian when all they did is steal all of thier lives and build up big accounts while thier workers live in poverty situations.If a suicide bombers only mechanism is to strap on a bomb that is what they will have to use. The part I really don't understand is when they blow themselves up they believe that they are going to a better place wouldn't you rather kill remotely and live to see your revenges results for the love of a son or daughter or whatever in hopes for them or is it just a better place you go to period? Because when you really look at life all it is really is death I try to prepare myself for death mostly every day and I know that when the time comes it will be better than here .We are made to believe in fear more than anything these days and it is really a big multi billion dollar business however fear is spawning fear at a suprising rate just look around maybe something will fall from the sky today furthermore I dont believe that Bin Laden was responsible for the World Trade Center attacks because he was never brought to trial i would like to hear what he has to say in this country you are innocent until proven guilty unless you have no money in which the case would tend to follow the guilty verdict..............

How two teens were recruited for jihad

Jay Habib — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:46:31 GMT

Well, I've read a lot of comments by Americans and non-Americans here. And although, some of these might be close to accuracy, majority are still very biased. I don't think that someone living outside of Pakistan can really understand the social, economic and cultural circumstances that prevail here. Most Muslims are not born extremists. It's a combination of their life experiences and what's going on in the world around them that makes them choose a certain direction. And some of it is being fueled by America's so-called war on terrorism. I don't think that it's reasonable for Americans to try to make all nations a democracy against their will.

As far as the claim that muslims are not industrious is concerned, I say that just peruse through wikipedia and see how many things were invented by muslims. For example, the foundation of Algebra was laid by a Muslim mathematician (Al-Jibran); a Pakistani Muslim (Dr. Abdus-Salam) holds a nobel prize in Particle Physics; one of the leading Offshoring company (www.resgrp.com.pk) was founded by a Pakistani Muslim. World's first artificial island was built in the waters of a muslim country.

And on a side note, if you come to Pakistan, you will see Muslim women driving, working, wearing jeans, tank tops, skits, dancing, drinking and going to parties with their boyfriends. It just depends on which part of Pakistan you wish to look at.

How two teens were recruited for jihad

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