Bin Laden has been targeted as the master mind for the terrorist atrocities at New York and at the Pentagon, however the causes of these atrocities maybe partially directed to the flawed American foreign policies in the Middle East. The half century ongoing conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians, the Gulf War against Iraq, the American military presence in Saudi Arabia, economic sanctions and the desperation of hopeless people living in poverty have caused the emergence of Islamic fanaticism, the Taliban's rule of Afghanistan and the creation of militant groups such as the Hamas and Jihad in Palestine, and the Hizbullah in Lebanon.

I understand that the coalition war against international terrorism has a tentative 5 to 10 year plan code named 'Operation Noble Eagle' and will involve diplomatic, economic and military activities. The goal of 'Operation Eagle' will be to 'smoke out' terrorist work and cells around the world, however it will take more than 5 to 10 years to eradicate the causes of international terrorism when one considers the social understanding of hate as four-year-old Ahmed Masawbi says that his only one ambition in life is to follow his uncle Ismail and become a suicide bomber in Palestine's bloody intifada against Israel.

Rather than predict the planning of a 5 to 10 year 'Operation Eagle,' or predict the results of the more immediate operation 'Infinite Justice' it would be wise to further reflect on the causes of these terrorist atrocities. And BBC's Tehran Correspondent Jim Muir in trying to explain the forces of Arab anger writes "But irrespective of who precisely did it and why, many people in and from the region [Middle East] had a deep gut feeling that decades of accumulated poison somehow found expression on 11 September 2001."

References

U.S. begins to strengthen military forces in Asia. Potential opponent is poorly equipped, but wily, Jan Cienski, National Post, September 20, 2001 http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?f=/stories/20010920/697078.html

Secret plans for 10-year war, by Michael Evans, Defence Editor, September 20, 2001 The Times http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2001320010-2001325231,00.html

Explaining Arab anger, BBC News, September 19, 2001 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1552000/1552900.stm

Extremists' hatred of U.S. has varied roots, by Ellen Hale and Vivienne Walt, USA TODAY, September 19, 2001 http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/09/19/cover.htm

WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A SUICIDE BOMBER, Voice of the Mirror, article accessed on September 19, 2001 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news.htm