Their morals versus ours

[Roger Baker]

[Caution: This may be the kind of subversive stuff that the evil Don 
Laird
might post on this list if he were given an opportunity]

                       *************************************************

Confused?  Having difficulty telling the good guys from the bad guys?
Use this handy guide to discern differences between Terrorists and the
U.S.  Government:


*TERRORISTS:
Supposed Leader is the spoiled son of a powerful politician, from an
extremely wealthy oil family.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Supposed Leader is the spoiled son of a powerful politician, from an
extremely wealthy oil family.



*TERRORISTS:
Supposed Leader has declared a holy war ('Crusade') against his 
'enemies';
believes God is on his side, and that any means are justified.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Supposed Leader has declared a holy war ('Crusade') against his 
'enemies';
believes God is on his side, and that any means are justified.



*TERRORISTS:
Supported by extreme fundamentalist religious leaders who preach hatred,
intolerance, subjugation of women, and persecution of non-believers

*US GOVERNMENT:
Supported by extreme fundamentalist religious leaders who preach hatred,
intolerance, subjugation of women, and persecution of non-believers



*TERRORISTS:
Leadership determined by wealthiest and most powerful.  Supposed Leader
was not elected by a majority of the people in a free and fair
democratic election.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Leadership determined by wealthiest and most powerful.  Supposed Leader
was not elected by a majority of the people in a free and fair
democratic election.



*TERRORISTS:
Supposed Leader claims that any nation not with him, is against him;
believes World War is acceptable if it furthers his goals.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Supposed Leader claims that any nation not with him, is against him;
believes World War is acceptable if it furthers his goals.



*TERRORISTS:
Kill thousands of innocent civilians, some of them children, in cold
blooded bombings.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Kills (tens of) thousands of innocent civilians, some of them children,
in cold blooded bombings.



*TERRORISTS:
Have little or no support around the world.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Have little or no support around the world.



*TERRORISTS:
Members of leadership personally own a large financial stake in Central
Asia.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Members of leadership personally own a large financial stake in Central
Asia.



*TERRORISTS:
Leaders using followers in a war to advance their own personal political
prospects.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Leaders using followers in a war to advance their own personal political
prospects.



*TERRORISTS:
Announced many months ago the intention to wage war against current foe.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Announced many months ago the intention to wage war against current foe.



*TERRORISTS:
Operates through clandestine organization (al Qaeda) with agents in many
countries; uses bombing, assassination, other terrorist tactics.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Operates through clandestine organization (CIA) with agents in many
countries; uses bombing, assassination, other terrorist tactics.



*TERRORISTS:
Supposed Leader hoping war will improve his shrinking popularity.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Supposed Leader hoping war will improve his shrinking popularity.



*TERRORISTS:
Supposed Leader's father got his start as a CIA operative.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Supposed Leader's father got his start as a CIA operative.



*TERRORISTS:
Using war as pretext to clamp down on dissent, undermine civil
liberties, and strangle the free press.

*US GOVERNMENT:
Using war as pretext to clamp down on dissent, undermine civil
liberties, and strangle the free press.


There!  Is it all clear now?