>Exactly. It was a group of bright, articulate people. Some had tertiary education. Some even went to school in the USA. From your/my perspective you might think they wouldn't be swayed by "great satan" propaganda and would have some time for the good old USA.

How is that they were bright? How can you equate bright with deliberately killing innocent civilians? Not only the people on the planes, but all those in the World Trade Center? That is your definition of bright?

As far as education goes, having a college degree doesn't necessary make you smart. I don't think Bush is the brightest bulb in the house, nor was Clinton.

>Instead they sacrificed their lives to attack you.

Yes, they killed innocent civilians too.

>We agree this does not make a lot of sense in terms of our own lives and thinking. Assuming we'd like to help stop this sort of event, basic common sense says we need to find out why it made so much sense to people who are just as smart as we are.

Just as smart as us? I sincerely doubt that. Have you read much about the September 11th hijackers?

But that is beside the point. We know why we were attacked, and continue to be threatened. Al Qaeda has stated that our military being in Saudi Arabia, where 2 of Islam's holiest sites are located (Mecca and Medina) is the primary reason we are being attacked.

>This is why I'm trying to say we NEED to engage better. Just saying they are wrong or biased or whatever and closing off, doesn't help at all. It is reminiscent of people driving on whatever side of the road they choose, then when the inevitable happens, righteously denouncing those who made such a mess by driving on the wrong side of the road.

No, it is reminiscent of someone not liking the side of the road you drive on, so they run their car into your house to kill your family and teach you a lesson. And you think these people are bright?

>Fact: we all modify our behaviour to get along in this world. It isn't a sign of weakness.

Neville Chamberlain said something similar.