Reading Jon Reisman’s op-ed, “Remember 9-11 without denial” (BDN, Sept. 11), it is easy and comforting to imagine America fighting for right against “Islamic fascists.” He says that radical Islam’s attack on “capitalism and freedom” is the cause of the conflict, but this greatly oversimplifies its origins and echoes the meaningless rhetoric of the Bush administration.

No one disputes that al-Qaida and its allies are our enemies, but they could not survive for long without some support from the local population. The overwhelming majority of Muslims do not follow radical jihadist teachings, but they have other reasons for anti-Americanism: they resent American meddling in their homeland. Reisman implied that Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran were obstacles to peace. America has been arming and supporting oppressive Saudi princes for 60 years.

A 1953 CIA coup replaced Iran’s fledgling democracy with a repressive monarchy, and in 1963 the CIA helped put Saddam Hussein in power. The 1980s saw Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush supply the Iraqi dictator with weapons. In the eyes of Middle Easterners, Operation Iraqi Freedom is not a “War on Terror”; it is just more interference in their politics, reminiscent of British and French colonialism.

I remember watching, horrified, as skyscrapers fell and our idea of the world changed. I remember my anger at those responsible and my sorrow at the thousands lost. Nothing can justify such violence against civilians. But when we remember 9-11, let us remember it without denying that we were part of the problem.

Luke Beland

Bangor