“Those who are denied a fair

                                       deal seek it in their own way.

                                       Be it Taliban, communist or

                                       French Revolution, the thread

                                       is the same.”

I came across this brief letter written to the National Geographic in the January 2008 issue about the “Struggle for the ‘Soul of Pakistan”, an analysis written by Don Belt.  In his letter, Abdur Rab of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, equates the aims of the Taliban, the Communists and the French Revolutionists – saying – “the thread is the same”.  In the sense that history is written by the victors, Rab claims that the revolutionary process that produced the modern French government as well as the United States are related because of the advancement of “progress” and democracy.  I cannot see this is true about the Taliban.  I cannot see this as true about Castro’s version of Communism in Cuba. The thread is cut when universal human goals are perverted.  You can cite other examples, I am sure.

If the world turned out differently after Osama bin Laden’s “martyrs” brought down the Trade Towers in New York City – we would be ruled by revolutionists (terrorists) who vaguely hinted of a better world by ridding it of the United States, the Great Satan, whose client state, Israel, is slated for destruction under rules of Shariah. This is not a revolutionary doctrine, but a strict religious interpretation of the Quran.  In no way will the “revolutionaries” who practice war against civilian populations cow them into agreeing to demands made either by the Taliban or the organization, Al Queda. These are currently making war against democratic countries that wrote the history of our times - up to this point.  The “thread” spoken about by Mr. Rab exists but does not lead in a straight line from revolution against monarchy to the anarchy of non-state gunmen who strike out against peaceful peoples just to spread fear and confusion, again – in the name of a reactionary religion. 

The revolution of Mao which brought Communism and poverty to China is dying in the remaining Communist states but the current war against democracies by Al Queda and the Taliban are not the same ideologically although the methodologies are much the same - except for that war against civilians.  I believe that even the most fervent proponents of the rights of Palestinians to make martyrs of themselves would not be able to defend what Al Queda and the Taliban have wrought.  These organizations and Mr. Rab mistake orderly change as an outrage committed by the democracies against freedom loving people like themselves. Wrong!