Like Boris said, the west had a hand in the arming of the Mujahideen, whose fighters welcomed the west arming them at the time when they were resisting the Soviet invasion, some of them morphed into the Taliban whilst others morphed into their enemies of the Northern alliance, I don't know if they were fundamentalists.
That has been going on forever since the days of the "Great Game", its not a 20th/21st century phenomenon.

I suppose that whilst agreeing that events evolve so soviet/western interventions played their part in creating the ground for the vandalism in Afghanistan or Palmyra there has always been within those populations, the seeds of nutter behaviour present within the native populations.

Personally, I believe the relatively recent surge in Islamic extremism is as much about power plays in the modern world by, Saudi Wahabbists moreso than the west.

The mujahideen were hailed as heroes in Rambo 3 and one of the Dalton Bond movies

comment by Hector (U3606)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
Like Boris said, the west had a hand in the arming of the Mujahideen, whose fighters welcomed the west arming them at the time when they were resisting the Soviet invasion, some of them morphed into the Taliban whilst others morphed into their enemies of the Northern alliance, I don't know if they were fundamentalists.
That has been going on forever since the days of the "Great Game", its not a 20th/21st century phenomenon.
====
True, but that doesn't mean it's OK. Blame should be apportioned according to contribution. Who the cap fit let them wear it.

I suppose that whilst agreeing that events evolve so soviet/western interventions played their part in creating the ground for the vandalism in Afghanistan or Palmyra there has always been within those populations, the seeds of nutter behaviour present within the native populations
====
All populations have nutters and are capable of all these things and are the same. ALL. If the tables were turned and it was them meddling in our affairs we'd look like them, and we have looked like them in days gone by.

Ultimately people are animals, just takes a more nuanced approach to control them than regular animals, so human behaviour depends of the prevailing agendas and environment.

Palmyra predates Islam by about 3 millennia, the attack by ISIS on the site was hate-driven vandalism

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna551806

And driven by personal gain.

Personally, I believe the relatively recent surge in Islamic extremism is as much about power plays in the modern world by, Saudi Wahabbists moreso than the west.
====
Little evidence to support that but I wouldn't be surprised if Saudi and others want to also play the game. However, it is well known that the west uses anyone and anything to further their agenda. We know they've planned false flag attacks before and all that.

They didn't know how horrific this ideology was or how they treat women and ignore human rights when they backed these groups and gave them a foothold, bringing them from fringe organisations with little chance of ever gaining real traction to ruling entire countries with an iron fist?

They knew, but their own interests overrode the interests of millions of people and billions in successive future generations who will be born into these religious states now. Will probably take a century or more to undo that.

We must alter our foreign policy to actually be in congruence with our rhetoric on what we want to achieve on this planet. As it is we say one thing but act in the opposite direction.

Alistair Darling dead at 70

Must admit I wasn’t an admirer

Ibn Saud was best mates with Ibn Wahhab, gave him sanctuary, Wahhab who preached a fundamentalist version of Islam that the Taliban, the Saudi bin Laden/AQ and ISIS all adhere to. Its all there.

comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 31 minutes ago
Alistair Darling dead at 70

Must admit I wasn’t an admirer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He's no Rishi Sunak.

Great brows though.

comment by Hector (U3606)
posted 20 minutes ago
Ibn Saud was best mates with Ibn Wahhab, gave him sanctuary, Wahhab who preached a fundamentalist version of Islam that the Taliban, the Saudi bin Laden/AQ and ISIS all adhere to. Its all there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just like Bush and Osama were buddies. Bush family and Osama family almost godfather for each other's children. Established businesses together.

One day Osama saw the light, left the good life behind and went up some mountain cave in Afghanistan to fight Bush and America in Jihad.

Nothing to see here of course.

In 1981 the Port of Montreal was full from end to end with flatbed trains each carrying a D-9 or D-12 Caterpillar tractor with Kelly Rippers attached. All produced in Brownsville, Texas. Destined for Russia. This was after USA had put an embargo on selling anything to USSR after their invasion of Afghanistan. Where do we think USSR needed thousands of heavy road building vehicles within a year of that invasion? The 2 faces of the West were shown there.

Alastair Darling so young as well

Greece doesn't like Rishi

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GAMpcMBXcAAsDJO?format=jpg&name=medium

Lol

accurate

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-67577038

comment by Hector (U3606)
posted 34 minutes ago
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-67577038
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read the headline and thought WTF twins at 70

Then I got to the first paragraph and it was IVF

MINDBLOWN

comment by Sat Nav (U18243)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
comment by Hector (U3606)
posted 34 minutes ago
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-67577038
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read the headline and thought WTF twins at 70

Then I got to the first paragraph and it was IVF

MINDBLOWN
----------------------------------------------------------------------
She wants kids to look after her in her old age.
First question: How long you think you're going to live?
Second question: How old will your kids be when they have to look after you?
Last question(for now):How old will they be when they are orphaned?

Mehdi Hasan has been sacked from MSNBC. I wonder why.

comment by Tu Meke (U3732)
posted 2 minutes ago
Mehdi Hasan has been sacked from MSNBC. I wonder why.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently the changes are to do with 2024 Election coverage.

Yeah, right.

Israel resumes attack on Gaza within minutes of ceasefire ending, with a barrage of strikes targeting refugee camps and residential areas. Another 66 already dead. They're really outdoing themselves this time.

They literally couldn't wait to get back to the killing and destruction.

Why is Chauvin getting stabbed not a major story?