In Reply to: Stu that is some kind of analysis posted by Bruno ® on Friday, 1. November 2002 at 02:05 Bali Time:
The leaders aren't necessarily poor, in fact usually they are both well educated and well off. But the people they recruit to do the grunt work are usually poor and poorly educated. All armies operate this way. Well educated and/or rich people with a lot to lose are rarely found on the front line in any war.
Terrorists have what they see as a legitimate gripe against the West. It all boils down to money, we've got lots and they don't! Money equals power, importance, good health, a roof over your head and hopefully the good life, and most people want that.
If you believe that someone (the West) is denying you that then you get antsy!
Many moderate ( and these represent the vast majority) Muslim leaders say that basically if they can get their living standards up to the Wests then the problems will largely disappear.
Didn't WWII teach us anything. Hitler got millions up and fighting by preying on their poverty and despair. If they hadn't been punished economically for WWI then WWII would never have got off the ground.
On the matter of Aboriginals they are the group most likely to die from violence in Australia. The rise in violence from them and against them is disturbing and shows no sign of reducing. Luckily they seem to have only leaders who take a moderate line on matters of politics.