Scheuer's Imperial Hubris

The book I have just started is Michael Scheuer's Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War On Terror. I've seen Dr. Scheuer speak about his area of expertise, Bin Laden, for a while now. I choose to pick up his book because I believe he has credibility on this issue and speaks sincerity to his experience.

Dr. Scheuer argues that we must view the threat from bin Laden and Islamists through there eyes. He contends that Muslims see high ranking American citizens who speak critically of Islam as speaking for America. America's policies to install pro-Western democracies that favor Christianity usually does so at the cost of partitioning a Muslim country. He argues that in an attempt to limit funding of terrorists and teaching anti-Western sentiments, America is interfering with core Islamic beliefs to give to charity and teach without interference.

America's support for oppressive regimes is another reason for animosity. US policy supports Hindu India, Catholic Filipinos, Orthadox Christians in Russia, ex-communist Uzbeks, Chinese communists, and apostate (a person who forsakes his religion) al-Sauds. Apostate states would include Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. For other Muslim countries, the United States and the United Nations often imposes economic and military sanctions like condemning Pakistan for building a nuclear weapon while condoning Israel and India for the same offense. Western oil companies designs on Middle East oil is another point of suspicion.

Now with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the occupation of Muslim lands is the most poignant abomination. This is seen as no surprise since the partitioning of east Timor and the backing of Israel on controversial territory.