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n recent letters I'€™ve tried to show the absurdity of blaming terrorism solely on Religious teachings, when the Christian Bible promotes at least as much violence, if not more. I'€™d like to give three examples of how American foreign policy has caused a great deal of this violence.

First, if America had not overthrown the moderate government in Iran in the 1950s and replaced it with the hated Shah, there probably never would have been an Iranian Revolution, which paved the way for the modern-day jihadist movement.

Secondly, America'€™s one-sided support of Israel has greatly radicalized the Muslim world. The Jews and Palestinians lived together for hundreds of years in relative peace prior to the Zionist movement. But you can'€™t have peace as long as one side continues to occupy the land of the other side.

Thirdly, America'€™s invasion of Iraq turned that country into a paradise for terrorists, and that'€™s why we now have to deal with IS.

While moderate or secular Muslims are told to speak out against the extremists, whenever moderate of secular Jews such as myself speak out against Israel, we are called '€œself-loathing'€ Jews or traitors.

So, if we'€™re going to insist that people condemn the extremists in their own religion, then maybe we Jews should set a better example for the rest of the world to follow.

Eric Bahrt
The Nation/ANN/Bangkok