..out of the dark

These stories, the theory goes, then make up our defense. And the very first time you see something actually dangerous, you will predict the pattern and run away.. from the tiger, or something.

"Al- Quida" has become the label we use on a hidden evil that is potentially limitless in scope. We do not know how it appears, we do not know who it is, and of course, we do not know where it will strike next. Thankfully our shamans know a few tricks, though, and are able to predict the patterns for us. Or so they tell us. That the appearance is known, their thoughts are known, and in fact, they are struck down apparently all over the world all the time and imprisoned by valiant efforts to save our civilisation from destruction.

But what does it want, this tremendous evil we cannot quite grasp what is? About a year ago, Osama bin Laden released yet another cave- man production, and offered the american people a truce. It was of course ridiculed, and then explained as yet another piece of evidence that either the evil was not quite as horrorifical as first thought - or for those so inclined - that the evil had spread across the globe anyway, and out of Osama's control. Since obviously the Ummah was on the war- path.

And we do not negotiate with terrorists, anyway.

In case we do, though, there are certain things that appear to recur in this theoretical Ummah that wants to kill us all in the name of God, and that spawned the "al- Quida". It is simply history.

The main grievances stated as far as al- Quida is concerned is for instance the Palestine- issue, and it is the occupation of holy lands by the americans - before Saudi- arabia, now also others.

The Royal family of Saud also has grievances rooted in history. Their role, ever since their agreement with the US to supply their war- machinery with oil during ww2, in return for training and maintaining the Royal house with the means to maintain their "territorial integrity", has been a curiously contradictory one. On the one side, they are the west's greatest ally against extremists and dissidents of any kind, such as Osama (who think of them as traitors). And on the other, the relationship brings with it a dependence on oil, and along with it the need to accept the quirks of the Saudi Royal family when it comes to for instance Palestine, Hamas, fundamental Islam in the form of Sharia, and so on. This, of course, going all the way back to the aforementioned deal with then president F.D.Roosevelt, which included the lines:"I will take no action which might prove hostile to the Arab people."

But Truman takes over before the war ends, and a new set of yardsticks are employed when it comes to the convinience of Arab sentiment, at least when it comes to Palestine.

In a similar vein, the issues repeatedly brought up by various figures in Iran - the holocaust, the King David Hotel, the state founded on terrorism, the instating of the Shah, and so on. All historical issues that when questioned is frequently stated as their inexperienced attempts at propaganda (which of course all backwards muslims are spoonfed with from birth, which they must renounce to be welcome in the west, etc).

What does this mean, then? Is there a theoretical Ummah with strangely similar views, bent on the eradication of the west (and their zionist pets in particular), stretching from Afghanistan to Iran, Saudi- arabia and to Syria and Egypt? Or is it a trace of political events I am following that have been conviniently silenced from historical consideration in our ever more prevalent arrogance and hubris?

I believe this - diplomacy on current events may be bungled beyond repair, but there will be an opportunity in the future to negotiate on history, I think.

I wonder if we will be able to make use of it while it's still there, though.