the root cause of terrorism

[Bringo the Bongo Banger]

i just want to know what everyone thinks causes terrorism. is it our foreign policy? is it poverty? lack of education? western "oppression"? or anything else

[Rex Mundi]

There is no root cause of terrorism. There are as many causes as there are terrorists.

Poverty, lack of other avenues of expression, religious fanaticism, avarice, patriotism, oppression - you name it, it'll be there somewhere.

Something of interest in today's papers. Jacques Chirac has been shaken after discovering that despite France pretty much doing everything possible to avoid involvement in Iraq & just about everywhere else, Al Qaeda has pledged to support some hitherto unknown Algerian terrorist group in conducting a bombing campaign in mainland France. It looks like "the big appease from the land of smelly cheese" was about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Just goes to show that Al Qaeda's targets are not those who actively oppose them but anyone who doesn't share their views.

Still, I'm sure that Mr Chirac will see the bright side, he'll feel a lot better when he can pull that fence post outta his arse. It's been there long enough.

[Phuquit]

i just want to know what everyone thinks causes terrorism. is it our foreign policy? is it poverty? lack of education? western "oppression"? or anything else
It depends on how you're defining "terrorism".
The most prolific form of terrorism in human history - state terrorism - has its roots in none of the choices you mentioned.

Here's an interesting article:
http://www.sangam.org/ANALYSIS/Ahmad.htm

[Uganja]

Religion. Full stop. No doubt in my mind whatsoever

[Mark]

religion and opression are the two major ones i think

[the squid of despair]

Couldn't decide which thread to throw this in so I'll just put it here. Interesting article.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52184