Although we do not know for sure the identities of the people
involved,
reports say they were mostly Saudis, Yemenis and an Egyptian (Atta).
No
information showing they spent any substantial time in Afghanistan has
been presented to my knowledge, and Bush has refused to give evidence
to
the Taliban, but has said a case will be presented to Pakistan. I
hope
some version of those proofs is made generally public. Several of them
had
some US and European education.
Thanks. Do you know what sort of education it was? Did it include
anything besides
science, math, and technology? I understand from people in
international education
that people like those we are discussing are adept at taking what they
want from American
education, and leaving the rest. Will try to find that post. --I
wonder if one reason the extremist
groups are opposed to the education of women is that women might bemore
susceptible
to learning about values from other cultures than men, who seem more
readily able to restrict
what they learn to how-to things.
Atta had a master's degree and was described as highly perceptive and intelligent by his thesis advisor (see earlier reports). He flew the first WTC plane. He obviously somehow felt deeply that this was an honourable act. The ability of these groups to enlist intelligent
support
needs study. Education is not a very strong antidote to extremism. I recall the oft stated point that 5 of the 9 men who planned the Nazi
final
solution had PhDs.
I can understand that. A narrow technological education can leave
firmly
held attitudes intact.