Juan Cole on ending terrorism: "You want to end terrorism? End unjust military occupations. By all means have Syria conduct an orderly withdrawal from Lebanon if that is what the Lebanese public wants. But Israel needs to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which belong to Syria, as well. The Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank must be ended. The Russian scorched earth policy in Chechnya needs to stop. Some just disposition of the Kashmir issue must be attained, and Indian enormities against Kashmiri Muslims must stop. The US needs to conduct an orderly and complete withdrawal from Iraq. And when all these military occupations end, there is some hope for a vast decrease in terrorism. People need a sense of autonomy and dignity, and occupation produces helplessness and humiliation. Humiliation is what causes terrorism."

Juan Cole adds his voice to the overwhelming chorus debunking the 'they hate our freedoms' theory of terrorism and pointing to the obvious. The case is so strong the fact that any of the public believe the government is an indication of the power of propaganda, the compliance of the political elite and the corporate media, and the willingness of the public to believe official statements for no other reason than that they have been made by officials or leaders. The 'big lie'. Our leaders wouldn't lie to us, would they?

Juan Cole on ending terrorism: "You want to end terrorism? End unjust military occupations. By all means have Syria conduct an orderly withdrawal from Lebanon if that is what the Lebanese public wants. But Israel needs to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which belong to Syria, as well. The Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank must be ended. The Russian scorched earth policy in Chechnya needs to stop. Some just disposition of the Kashmir issue must be attained, and Indian enormities against Kashmiri Muslims must stop. The US needs to conduct an orderly and complete withdrawal from Iraq. And when all these military occupations end, there is some hope for a vast decrease in terrorism. People need a sense of autonomy and dignity, and occupation produces helplessness and humiliation. Humiliation is what causes terrorism."

Juan Cole adds his voice to the overwhelming chorus debunking the 'they hate our freedoms' theory of terrorism and pointing to the obvious. The case is so strong the fact that any of the public believe the government is an indication of the power of propaganda, the compliance of the political elite and the corporate media, and the willingness of the public to believe official statements for no other reason than that they have been made by officials or leaders. The 'big lie'. Our leaders wouldn't lie to us, would they?