Nationalities of the September 11th Hijackers:
15 Saudis, one Egyptian, one Lebanese, and two from the United Arab Emirates
State Department Foreign Terrorist Organizations operating in these countries:
Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group, IG) Egypt's largest militant group, IG's primary goal is to replace Egyptian government with an Islamic state. Activities: Armed attacks against Egyptian government officials and Coptic Christians. Launched the 1997 attack at Luxor that killed 58 foreign tourists. Attempted to assassinate Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in 1995.
Al-Jihad/Islamic Egyptian Jihad Active since the late 1970s, al-Jihad was established to overthrow the Egyptian government and create an Islamic state. Vehemently anti-U.S. and anti-Israel. Activities: Armed attacks and car bombings aimed at U.S. and Egyptian facilities. Carried out the 1981 assassination of President Anwar Sadat. Merged with al-Qaeda in June 2001; its leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is Osama bin Laden's closest adviser.
Hezbollah Extremist Shi'ite group that aims for the creation of Iranian-style Islamic republic in Lebanon. Formed in 1982 after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the group is strongly anti-West and anti-Israel. Activities: Anti-Israeli and anti-U.S. attacks, including the suicide truck bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks and embassy in Beirut in 1983.
Human Rights Records for these Countries:
...in Saudi Arabia
...in Egypt
...in Lebanon
...in the United Arab Emirates
Number of these countries we've bombed: 0
Number of these countries in the "axis of evil": 0
Aid we provide to these countries:
USAID plans to spend $655 million in Economic Support Funds in Egypt in FY 2002 and is requesting $615 million in ESF in FY 2003.
Lebanon: USAID’s FY 2002 program will devote $35,000,000 in Economic Support Funds (ESF) and $600,000 in Development Assistance (DA) funds. USAID is requesting $32,000,000 ESF and $500,000 DA for FY 2003.
Countries we've charged with terrorist activity: Afghanistan, Iraq
Just some food for thought.
Check out Kane Pryor's excellent article in today's Salon.