Poverty does not cause terrorism
Reader comment on item: Bush is rewarding terrorism

Submitted by E. Amster (United States), Jun 26, 2002 at 15:34

Right On, Daniel Pipes!

And one other thing -- poverty does not cause terrorism but rather terrorism causes poverty. With terrorism comes the cessation of business, trade, open markets, investment, good will, and at the very heart -- trust. Industries die when a terrorist infrastructure is established. Jobs disappear, expectations of a bright future vanish and are replaced by expections of misery and ongoing fear.

If the Palestinians want a better future, they need not only to come to terms with the existence of Israel, but to see Israel as a partner in prosperity. They need to teach peace to their children instead of the joy of "martyrdom" which is just plain murder. They need to love their children instead of using them as human weapons and sources of income from Saddam Hussein, the Saudis, Arafat, and others who use them as pawns for their own gain.

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