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[SalmonGod]

Not going to comment on the accuracy of the analogy. 

Posting purely for the humor.

The comments make it even better.

[Aqizzar]

“For over two decades, Kenobi has been the Jedi rebellion’s leader and symbol,” the Lord of the Sith said in a statement broadcast across the galaxy via HoloNet. “The death of Kenobi marks the most significant achievement to date in our empire’s effort to defeat the rebel alliance. But his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that the rebellion will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

You are now aware that you just read that in James Earl Jones' voice.

751 comments when I opened it, every one of the golden.

[Virex]

This theory has already been put forth as the global solution to terrorism. Education, opportunity, ect....

And it's also been challenged by many as being a totally Western take on the solution and the problem, that poverty and brutality and deprivation are just the symptoms, not the cause. I don't claim to really understand non-Western problems, so I stand in the middle of that argument.

But consider that some of Bin Laden's supporters came from wealthy, affluent Muslim nations. Hitler had plenty of support from Western Industrialists. American businesses and the American people pour billions into actions we have very little control over, that many other groups consider to be extremist, capitalist whatever. Wealth, opportunity and plenty don't necessarily have anything to do with reducing orthodox viewpoints. If there's any corollary, I think it allows people to become so insulated they can function in a group that holds those beliefs and never really have their viewpoints challenged. It's harder to be Orthodox when you have to go "outside" a lot.

Iran is another example. They're not poor and struggling anymore, they control their backyard and are quite modern. Yet there's plenty of Orthodox/Extremist support there too. It's probably like a pendulum effect, where being on either end of the pendulum leads to the extremist views points, instead of one linear continuum.

You do realize that most Terrorists are generally well-educated and socially engaged? I don't know if, considering that, it's a good idea to start educating everyone out of the blue...

[Bauglir]

This theory has already been put forth as the global solution to terrorism. Education, opportunity, ect....

And it's also been challenged by many as being a totally Western take on the solution and the problem, that poverty and brutality and deprivation are just the symptoms, not the cause. I don't claim to really understand non-Western problems, so I stand in the middle of that argument.

But consider that some of Bin Laden's supporters came from wealthy, affluent Muslim nations. Hitler had plenty of support from Western Industrialists. American businesses and the American people pour billions into actions we have very little control over, that many other groups consider to be extremist, capitalist whatever. Wealth, opportunity and plenty don't necessarily have anything to do with reducing orthodox viewpoints. If there's any corollary, I think it allows people to become so insulated they can function in a group that holds those beliefs and never really have their viewpoints challenged. It's harder to be Orthodox when you have to go "outside" a lot.

Iran is another example. They're not poor and struggling anymore, they control their backyard and are quite modern. Yet there's plenty of Orthodox/Extremist support there too. It's probably like a pendulum effect, where being on either end of the pendulum leads to the extremist views points, instead of one linear continuum.

You do realize that most Terrorists are generally well-educated and socially engaged? I don't know if, considering that, it's a good idea to start educating everyone out of the blue...

I'm not entirely sure if this is accurate. Citation? The leaders obviously are, but it's the rare organization where the leaders outnumber the people they lead. It's also well-educated (and unemployed) males who are likeliest to get involved in revolutionary violence, but it seems like religious fanaticism plays a role here, and I would expect education level to have little to no influence on that; it seems like a factor that would skew the membership, given that it seems that well-educated people seem to be a minority in the areas most recruiting comes from. I could be wrong on any of those, points, though.

[Jackrabbit]

“For over two decades, Kenobi has been the Jedi rebellion’s leader and symbol,” the Lord of the Sith said in a statement broadcast across the galaxy via HoloNet. “The death of Kenobi marks the most significant achievement to date in our empire’s effort to defeat the rebel alliance. But his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that the rebellion will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

You are now aware that you just read that in James Earl Jones' voice.

751 comments when I opened it, every one of the golden.

How much of the comments section was the work of the people who made the article? Because I refuse to believe there could be that much concentrated funny in any public comments section anywhere.

[ChairmanPoo]

You do realize that most Terrorists are generally well-educated and socially engaged? I don't know if, considering that, it's a good idea to start educating everyone out of the blue...

So, according to you, since Terrorists (capital T terrorists? what's a "terrorist" anyway? it's not like it's a homogeneous group) are (supposedly) well educated and socially engaged, we should strive to make ignorant schizoid people the bulk of the population?

[Phmcw]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bin-ladens-death-and-the-debate-over-torture/2011/05/11/AFd1mdsG_story.html

This make lots of sense. Except for the part where it say that no one should be prosecuted for what he admit to be torture.
But,... I mean it's ... who wrote that... then...

[Nadaka]

You do realize that most Terrorists are generally well-educated and socially engaged? I don't know if, considering that, it's a good idea to start educating everyone out of the blue...

So, according to you, since Terrorists (capital T terrorists? what's a "terrorist" anyway? it's not like it's a homogeneous group) are (supposedly) well educated and socially engaged, we should strive to make ignorant schizoid people the bulk of the population?

Wait... Are you saying that they aren't already the bulk of the population?

[Il Palazzo]

You do realize that most Terrorists are generally well-educated and socially engaged? I don't know if, considering that, it's a good idea to start educating everyone out of the blue...

I'm not entirely sure if this is accurate. Citation?

Scott Atran's recent-ish (2008) study shows that the levels of education and wealth vary from group to group and often change with time.
http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/35/html

A lecture focusing on some of the points from that study:
http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/beyond-belief-enlightenment-2-0/scott-atran

[ChairmanPoo]

You do realize that most Terrorists are generally well-educated and socially engaged? I don't know if, considering that, it's a good idea to start educating everyone out of the blue...

So, according to you, since Terrorists (capital T terrorists? what's a "terrorist" anyway? it's not like it's a homogeneous group) are (supposedly) well educated and socially engaged, we should strive to make ignorant schizoid people the bulk of the population?

Wait... Are you saying that they aren't already the bulk of the population?

Win

[nenjin]

Scott Atran's recent-ish (2008) study shows that the levels of education and wealth vary from group to group and often change with time.
http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/35/html/quote]

What he said. Like any complex social organization, it encompasses a lot of different kinds of people.

[ChairmanPoo]

I was suddenly reminded of the plot of "Mutant Action":

In a future world ruled by good-looking people, a terrorist group of mutants led by Ramon Yarritu kidnap the daughter of Orujo, a rich businessman, to claim for the rights of the ugly people. Escaping from the police in their spaceship, Ramon try to kill his gang in order to get all the ransom. The trip ends abruptly when they crash in Axturiax, the planet of the crazy miners where no woman lives.

[devek]

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/100087782/osama-bin-laden-to-al-qaeda-dont-bother-assassinating-joe-biden/

If I was Biden, I would be like...

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[Aqizzar]

Uncle Joe gets no respect at all.  To be fair, I'd like to know exactly when that memo went out, since they might have meant Cheney.  But probably not.

I bet Biden's going to mention it in a speech at some point, he can't resist.

[Leafsnail]

I'm guessing most of you have already seen this, but I might as well share it anyway.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/12/osama-bin-laden-killer-tractor

Osama bin Laden angrily vetoed a plot to fit rotating blades to a tractor and use it to "mow down the enemies of Allah", on the grounds that it would cause "indiscriminate slaughter", according to a US official familiar with material seized in the raid on the al-Qaida chief's hideout.

Odd.  Reaaaaaaally odd.  Although I'm starting to distrust articles sourced vaguely to "a US official".