Terrorists are Motivated by their Religious Ideology
By David Holcberg (sent to USA Today, July 19, 2007)

Re "Prevent terrorism by taking care of the poor" (Letters, July 18, 2007)

Islamic terrorists are motivated by their religious ideology, not by any legitimate grievances over "poverty and oppression around the world."

If the terrorists and their leaders had any real interest in overcoming poverty and ending oppression they would be advocating--and fighting for--the establishment of capitalism and the protection of individual rights in their own countries and around the globe.

The Islamists are not interested in freedom or earthly wealth, which they openly despise. Their goal, as they readily admit, is world domination under Islamic law--hardly a recipe for prosperity. Oppression and poverty is not what these fanatics are fighting against--it is what they are fighting to bring about.