It must be emphasized that the aim of Bin Laden cs. is *not* to destroy the USA, although they would see it as a happy collateral. Those Islam expert who do really study the Islamic political movements generally point out that the target of fundamentalists is preventing the integration of muslims, more specific, arabs, in Western society.

Their nightmare is all those UK and French muslims playing an active part in UK and French society. Because these women and men are the comming leaders of the Islamic world. Remember that Islamic fundamentalists have killed hundreds of arabs, afghans, and pakistani for every westener they got. They chased away most Free-thinkers from Egypt, the center of the Arab world. The fight for Indonesia is just starting.

There is good cause to say that almost all original thinking on islam and arabic culture goes on in France. Original Pakistani thinkers seem to be mostly located in the UK. From this we must conclude that Al Quaida won big time. The western world had indeed barred all muslims from active participation in their societiety. And the one arabic country that was really becoming democratic, Libanon, has been destroyed by the US (this is how the arabs see it).

Btw, you should remeber that *all* predictions about the war in Iraq made by the French and Germans have come true. This war was an enormous mistake. It undid whatever good had come out of beating the Taliban. It also showed that the Neo-Cons are essentially con men, but that is just my personal judgement.

Winter