American Policies that Provoke Terrorism :: Threats to World Peace

The events that occurred on September 11, 2001 were horrific, unjust, and inhumane. As awful as these events are, they are not unexplainable. Without a doubt those who committed the acts were acting irrationally, but one must question what brought these people to this point of desperation, such that they would partake in a mass murder suicide mission. The U.S.’s involvement in the Middle East may shed some light on the sources of this desperation. U.S. policies in the Middle East are controversial and in most instances unjust. However, the U.S. refuses to change its politics. By not changing its policies, conflict between the U.S. and Middle Eastern states has increased. Furthermore by not changing its policies the U.S. has indirectly pushed some people to desperation such that they become involved with radical or terrorist groups that encourage violence. Among these controversial policies are the U.S. support of the Israeli government and the U.S.’s refusal to lift sanctions on Iraq. Instead of taking a neutral role in the Arab-Israeli conflict, the U.S. has been a true ally to Israel. The U.S. has provided financial aid and weaponry to Israel. In this way the U.S. has contributed to increasing tensions and conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. â€Å"Turning a blind eye to the ongoing, extremely provocative, and illegal Israeli settlement activities, the U.S. also ‘sponsored’ a peace process that gave Israel a free hand in acquiring more Palestinian land and in carrying out other ‘unilateral sanctions’ (particularly in the illegal annexation of occupied East Jerusalem) with full impunity. With every agreement renegotiated, modified, or even negated in action, the American sponsors exonerated all Israeli violations and abuses while putting intolerable pressure on the weaker Palestinian side to show ‘flexibility’ and seriousness of intent.† (Ashrawi, 1.) The U.S.’s open support for the Israelis has upset many Arabs and with good reason. The U.S. should take on a neutral role so that there is a true possibility of creating a permanent peace. By furnishing weapons to the Israelis, we too are responsible for the mass murdering of Palestinians. Although, the U.S. government favors creating a Palestine state, greater open U.