"The claim that the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked because fundamentalists hate our prosperity and freedom is a ridiculous lie"

This quote by L. Neil Smith is a strong statement against the idea that the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were motivated by a hatred of American success and liberty. Smith is suggesting that this claim is a "ridiculous lie" and that there are other aspects at play. He implies that the attacks were motivated by something else, such as a desire for power or vengeance. Smith's quote is a reminder that we ought to not leap to conclusions about the motivations behind such acts of violence, and that we should put in the time to think about all possible descriptions. It is likewise a reminder that we must not utilize the attacks to further our own programs or to demonize specific groups of people.