The Truth About Hostility Between the Mid-East and the West

Let's start towards the beginning. Or, at least, right around after World War II. In 1953, the US Central Intelligence Agency helps the overthrowing of the Mossadeq government. This govenment had been democratically elected. This overthrowing lead to over 25 years of oppression by the Shah. Until then, Iran didn't hate us nearly as much as they do today. We were like an itch on the back of a lion; after this bold move, we became a festering welp, an obstruction, and they haven't forgiven us for it. If someone overthrew your government and flung you into dictatorship, you would likely want to get back at them, too.

Guess who the US helped bring in? Saddam Hussein. That's right. In 1963, the US supported a coup by the Ba'ath party in Iraq, which was later headed by Hussein. The US also reportedly gave the Ba'ath part the names and locations of individuals, mostly communists, to kill.

In 1978, when the seeds or revolution were planted in the minds of Iranians, and this came to the Shah's attention, the US gave the Shah it's support "without reservation", and ushered the Shah on to act with military force if needed in order to get a grip on his people. The US tried to launch a coup to protect the Shah, but it failed.

In '79, the US began covertly aiding the Mujahideen (also spelled "Mujahaideen"; the Mujahaideen is formally recognized internationally as a terrorist organization.) in Afghanistan approximately six months before the invasion of the Soviets in December of the same year. Over the next ten years, the US continued to provide arms, training, aid, and supplies to the Mujahaideen.

In 1982, Israel was given the go-ahead by the US to attack Lebanon which resulted in the death of an estimated seventeen thousand civilians, not to mention Lebanese military operatives. The US did not invoke its power over Israel to stop it from using US-provided weapons except in self-defense. The US vetoes Council resolutions that would condemn the attacks and invasion.

1984: The US backs rebels that attacked an Afghanistan civilian airliner.

In '88, Hussein (who, remember, the US helped bring to power, though indirectly) kills thousands upon thousands of his own Kurdish people with devastating and torturous chemical weapons. The US helped provide some of these weapons. Following the attacks, the US increased economic ties with Iraq.

In 1991, the US imposes trade sanctions on Iraq. The US and UK block any and all attempts to lift or bypass them. Hundreds of thousands die as a result of these sanctions. The Security Council states that the sanctions would have been lifted once Hussein's projects for the development of WMDs ceased, the US declares that the sanctions will remain in place as long as Saddam is in a position of power in Iraq. Madeleine Albright, who later became the US Secretary of State, said that "the price is worth it."

In 1993, the US launched missles against Iraq, in response to the alleged attempt on the first President Bush's life two months prior. The alleged assassination attempt was never proven beyond reasonable doubt, and is debatable to this day.

In 1998, the US and UK strike Iraq, according to them, over weapons inspections controversy. At this time, the Security Council is just beginning to meet with Iraq to discuss the matter. Also in '98, the US attacks and successfully destroys a factory that produced more than half of Sudan's pharmaceutical supply. Allegedly, this attack is retaliation for attacks on US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. The pharmaceutical factory, according to the US, was involved in the manufacture of chemical weapons for terrorists. Evidence supporting this claim is scarce and disputed widely.

Finally, there's the controversy over the Iraq war, and hostility with Iran. It seems that there may well never be peace in the Middle East, and that, while it may just be a naturally violent region, their apparent and widely-known hatred for the West is not as unjustified as we would like to believe.

You can choose to accept the speeches and appeasements that the government feeds us, or you can pursue truth. The truth is out there; they are relying on you not discovering their carelessly lain-in-place paper trail. Statistics, figures, and even eye-witness reports are all over the place.

The truth is that they do not 'hate us for our freedoms'. They hate us for detracting from theirs at various points in history.