[evilgenius]

Today I came across a story (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/28/us_banks_ddos_update/) that claims some group of Muslim hackers are responsible for the most recent denial of service attacks that several US banks have suffered from. The story says that this group has posted things blaming the recent anti-Islamic film on Youtube for their actions. I was wondering, would any truly intelligent religious person actually be offended by this film? Wouldn't such a person actually glory in this stunt because the lame attempt should boost them in the long run, assuming they expressed displeasure but didn't overreact to it now? You know, the attack on the US Consulate in Libya, that killed the ambassador, was also blamed on this film, but it reeks of a set plan that pre-dates the film. I understand that many, especially denizens of this site, will immediately jump to the conclusion that this is all part of some giant false flag endeavor. I think it is dangerous to always blame some Orwellian cause, not least because Occom's Razor would not consider that until many other things are ruled out. So, what is going on? Has there been a political or semi-political reorganization brought about amongst the ME countries in the wake of the Arab Spring, the intelligence efforts of which could be behind this? Is this how the Russians play clandestine ball these days, not unlike how they supported red terror groups during the Cold War? Could it be as simple as fill in the blank technology getting into the hands of wealthy but unintelligent, less than introspective people who do harbor resentment over a less than B grade attempt to mock them?

[Keith_McClary]

B grade attempt to mock them?

Like Ahmadinejad's comments on certain topics that are off limits to discussion and scholarly research in the Empire?

How have "truly intelligent religious" people responded to that?

[evilgenius]

B grade attempt to mock them?

Like Ahmadinejad's comments on certain topics that are off limits to discussion and scholarly research in the Empire?

How have "truly intelligent religious" people responded to that?

I suppose it depends how much of Netanyahu's Kool-Aide they have swallowed. The belligerent amongst the Jewish people are bound and determined to force an end they desire. They perceive some edge so they say all kinds of things. Netanyahu gets away with saying stuff about how the Iranians don't care about their children, only about the Mahdi, while a majority of Iranians certainly do care. Likewise many in Israel are not of one mind with Netanyahu.

There is a whole cascade of problems any argument about this kind of thing encounters on the way to finding out what marginal thing may have actually motivated a deeply troubled people. Some of those problems are historical and some of them are a result of the modern power structure. Perhaps a group of hackers could find motivation amongst them, but I think a state actor is much more likely. Just like Ahmadinejad such a group is bound to use rhetoric that sounds inflammatory. That doesn't necessarily mean they believe it themselves.

[Cloud9]

You guys realize the House of Saude wants Iran taken down.

[ColossalContrarian]

You guys realize the House of Saude wants Iran taken down.

What's in it for the Saudi's? Or it the usual Sunni vs. Shiite thing?

[Cloud9]

It is all about the Shia/Sunni rift. Iran is backing Shia unrest in Saudi Arabia. Social unrest endangers the flow of the spice. That cannot be tolerated. http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east ... e-1.427850

The Jews are a side show for the rest of the Arab world.

[evilgenius]

You guys realize the House of Saude wants Iran taken down.

Absolutely, the number one question in Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states is, 'What is taking Israel so long to attack Iran?'