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Originally Posted by aKula
I'm not angry at islamic states invading parts of europe centuries ago though. Much like I'm not angry at the French for Napoleon invading the Germanic states. That was so long ago, in a completley different world. If someone tried to invade your country today though you'd be angry (not to justify Osama Bin Laden's reaction). I think you are reading much too much into the historical aspect. I see ustwo do this all the time, saying something about the Ottoman empire laying siege to Vienna.
The British had a grip on French power for centuries. That wouldn't justify France acting imperialistically toward Britain today.
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But many of the Russians are still mad at the French for invading in 1812 and the Germans for 1941. And the Croats are still mad at the Serbs for things that happened during the time that the Ottomans controlled the country. The Koreans and Chinese are mad with the Japanese for the 1930's and 40's.
I think that most of the Islamists that point to the Crusades are just using them as another figurative straw in their arguement. They're mad that the US stood by and let the Israelis kick around the Palestinians. They're mad that there are American bases near their holy sites. They're mad at the perception that American foreign policy has allowed a few to get filthy rich and kept others in abject poverty. It's an easier arguement if you can say, "look this same stuff has been happening for 1000 years. We're mad as hell and we're just not going to take it anymore."