Oil

For oil is the real reason we have tolerated so much from Muslim countries and people. From what other ethnic, cultural or religious group would a civilization, that was still in the middle of the XXth century at the top of its might, have tolerated the threats and demands for special treatment that islamic countries or societies, just freed from the colonial yoke, very early inflicted to their global partners ? From the Chinese? The Bantous? The Eskimoos? The Australians aborigenes? The Jeovah Witnesses?Terrorism is not new! It does not date from 9/11. Remember Lockerbie. It was in the 80s', more than 20 years ago. Remember the numerous plane hijackings by Palestinians. Remember the Salman Rushdie affair, in the late eighties. And we can even go back much further.Why did the French invade Algeria? Because its special envoy, in charge of expressing the displeasure of the French Government in relation to "la course" - that is the activity of Algerian pirates in the western Mediterranea, assailing ship in high seas and taking staff and passengers as prisoners and/or hostages - was slapped in the face by the Turkish Bey of Algiers!Why did the West discovered the world and colonized large parts of it from the XIVth century on? Because the road to its ancient trade partners in Asia - India and China - was cut by an already hostile and threatening Islam . That was what triggered European powers to look for an other road to India and led them to discover Africa, central and south, and America, that new India!Hopefully the increasingly agressive stand recently taken by Islam and sone Muslim countries will be the occasion for an other decisive "progress": giving up the use of non-renewable fossil fuel for cleaner, safer, cheaper and less alienating sources of energy, while depriving global islam from its main lever and intimidation tool.Why were the Crusades launched ? Because, Chistian pilgrims to Jerusalem were being abused, harassed, insulted and otherwise mistreated by the muslim authorities and or population in Palestine.But five hundred years of western dominance have been sufficient to make us forget the nature of our old enemy, an enemy that is now well entrenched in our walls!Oil is at present the key. As soon as our dependance on it is cut, you will suddenly see the most outspoken defenders of tolerance towards Islam and Muslims become less vocal. Love of one's comfort and fear to have to give up parts or whole of it has always been a feature of sedentary societies. To that relatively tame fear we must now add the much more realistic one of having to confront, in our own countries, the anger of Europe's, America's or India's Muslims, whenever they feel slighted or insulted . Fear and conformism are indeed potent factors in shaping public opinion.