Partisans of the Bush-Blair "war on terrorism" are going ballistic over suggestions that there could possibly be any connection between current acts of terrorism and what is going on elsewhere in the world. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote a couple of days ago that anyone who suggests this is "just one notch less despicable than the terrorists."

I have said it here before, and I will say it again: There is no excuse or justification whatsoever for terrorist acts. But what the thought police want us to believe is that there is no connection between terrorism and the war in Iraq (perceived illegal invasion of sovereign state by the U.S. and U.K.), Abu Ghraib (perceived torture of prisoners by U.S. troops and interrogators), Israeli treatment of Palestinians (perceived occupation of Palestinian lands for nearly 40 years with no signs of leaving), U.S. support for the Saudi regime (perceived siding with tyrannical sheiks over the vast majority of the population), failure of the world to protect Muslims in Bosnia (perceived acquiescence in slaughter at Srebrenica and many other places), etc etc.

In other words, the thought police do not want anyone to try to understand the roots of terrorism, because such understanding might--just might--require a change in political policies by Bush and Blair. Of course, any attempt now to address injustices directed at Muslim peoples would be "giving in" to the terrorists and we can't have that. But as long as the current course continues, no one will be safe--and that includes the Muslims who are victim of so many terrorist acts from Iraq to Egypt.