Gods, I love that particular brand of Arab revisionism.... "NASTY CRUSADERS! Taking back the lands we conquered from them! Ungrateful bastards!"

Crusades was a slow and delayed response to Arab/Muslim raids and conquest throughout Mainland Europe and the MIddle East, since around 600CE/AD.
El Cid ring a bell?
Constantinople?
Roman Mesopotamia, Palestine and Egypt?
Sicily, Malta and southern Italy?
Russian Caucasus?
Attacks on the Byzantine Empire?
Battle of Poitiers? Oh, wait, the Franks whupped their arses there. Failed invasion.
The burning of the churches?
Confiscation of relics, property and oppressive "taxes" [read blackmail]?

Never mind the *constant* attacks on Pilgrims to Jerusalem.

Nevermind that they're *STILL* trying to spread their Holy Islamic Empire on the world.
By any and all means necessary.

Yeah, crusades were bad. WHY aren't the 500 years of Muslim attacks taught in schools, much beyond an occasional reference to El Cid? Makes you boggle, don't it?

I love this brand of european revisionism... both sides are to blame and none is an innocent.
And you and your country should be doing something effective to stop this, since this mess, which started ages ago, was aggravated during the england empire and the two world´s wars. Now is not time to point the finger at the other and say "you started this", it´s time to stop this bloodshed.

EDIT: typed thing when the correct is finger (i dunno what i was thinking)

Only sensible, informed and well thought out thing I've read in this thread.

Edit: and for those that haven't entered!


http://www.gog.com/forum/general/as_n_when_ya_numpties/post1

History is full of holes and secret meetings.
You are right, things are not simple...

we say "we have" a reason, also they say "they have" a reason for hating,
One side against another... almost same people different sides

"To become strong, a brand must position in relation to another. There must be contrast and conflict to build a situation like "us" and "them". (religion strong enough?)
BRAND sense Sensory Secrets Behind the Stuff We Buy By Martin Lindstrom

When does it end? how many wars? who wins? -> who supplies weapons to both sides, who can cash from so many deaths?

Maybe some answers can be found with geopolitics.
Geopolitics a way to explain the influences of old and new empires and their power exercised by political power, economic and military over a territory.
Control of vital resources, energy, industry, IT, banks of each country are controlled by direct or indirect channels.

indirect channels may be spies even spying on own citizens...

you are right, but... empires do not stop for people, they get resources and control them trough debt
another good book that shows exactly how world works: Debt: The First 5, 000 Years by David Graeber