Root Causes

From SFGATE.com

"The pernicious idea that poverty causes terrorism has been a popular claim since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Eliminating the root of terrorism is indeed a valid goal -- but properly targeted military action, not welfare handouts, is the means of doing so. Terrorism is not caused by poverty. The terrorists of Sept. 11 did not attack the United States in order to make the Middle East richer. To the contrary, their stated goal was to repel any penetration of the prosperous culture of the industrialized "infidels" into their world."

Stalin had his "useful idiots" and the left today has its "useful myths". This is definitely one of them. I've read many articles since 9/11 attributing Islamic terror to poverty and a general sense of estrangement from the successes of civilized society. It's really an insult to poor people everywhere.