So did Isreal do the right thing?

[kexodusc]

Actually, the terrorist orgsanizations are funded by the oil producing countries. So, while the desert dwelling peoples don't "benefit" from the oil monies, it's not because it's not there. They don't benefit from it because their rulers simply keep most of it for themselves and drop a goodly amount in making life difficult for the rest of the world by funding terrorist organizations. Educating their people is not high on their priorities.

That's exactly the point I was making...I think most of the people would prefer to live life without all the bloodshed (giving them the benefit of the doubt here, the Saudi's are UAE are fairly moderate) but the regimes in control of the state owned oil companies tend to rally the civilians to their causes...when you're poor and things aren't going as well - it's easy to believe the big bad US tyrant imperialists are responsible for this mess.

Actually, if they used theuir heads they might notice that Israel can rework the barran desert into fertile grounds that not only produce enough food to feed themselves, but actually produce excess food that can be exported. You would think they would want to learn from them. But no, they would rather destroy them

Hmmm, maybe. Israel historically was known as a very fertile land, but over thousands of years of intense war, capture, and recapture, the invaders and the losing sides of these wars salted/poisoned the lands to make it hard on the other side. Still, it always had potential, just needed some reconstruction Nothing like destroying the sacred ground.

As far as I know, most of the other desert lands are pretty much limited. Once oil loses is precious commodity value, these countries will have nothing left. You don't see Syria investing in mass infrastructure and technological development. Well, unless you believe Iran is developing high grade plutonium for "peaceful purposes".

[bobsticks]

[QUOTE=kexodusc]...when you're poor and things aren't going as well - it's easy to believe the big bad US tyrant imperialists are responsible for this mess.

. Kexo is correct.

Qu'ran:33:26 "Allah made the Jews leave their homes by terrorizing them so that you killed some and made many captive. And he made you inherit their lands, their homes, and their wealth. He gave you a country that you had not transversed before."

Does anyone actually believe that the majority of Muslims would ascribe to this?
To place it in American context, how many would support unto the peril of their souls some of the headier excerpts from Exodus--the stoning of adulterers, the selling of daughters into slavery, etc.? Millions of Muslims throughout the world abhor what is being contorted from modernistic Islam.
But when the clerics in the madrassahs teach the above they are not speaking to enlightened minds. They are inculcating hate upon the poorest and most hopeless. There is no mention of science or mathematics, linguistics or engineering. This is the politics of power and manipulation. And the problem grows more complex when it is the case, as stated, that these regions lack the basic infrastructure and natural resource base to sustain any non oil-based growth. As we have seen in the American experience, it is also true that the lower classes have the most offspring, and thus the cycle continues.

Qu'ran: 8:39 " So, fight them till all opposition ends and the only religion is Islam"

That is the message inundating the youth of disenfranchised Islam, delivered by parents, political leaders, spiritual figures, and peers. Obviously effective but just a means to an end--the maintenance of the moneyed and powered elite...