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Is Hamas a religious based organization, or a strictly politically based group?

The secular government in Syria seems to unconditionally prop them up, finance them and give sanctuary to the groups leaders and fund a lot of their activities but so do the hard core Ayallotollas in Iran. The ideologies of these two governments are quite different. Also, hard core Muslim organizations such as The Islamic Action Front (in Jordan) support them blindly such as when 20 Hamas activists were caught last month with arms and explosives smuggled into and hidden in Jordan. What is Hamas's theological/religious doctrine and political goals?? Umm, ok, good dissertation <qualittee> but, i just wanted to know if Hamas is largely seen as a religious or a secular group. Also, I DIDN'T mention Iraq but, since you mentioned this tidbit... **US government has taken a U turn..... its democracy whose restoration is their primary objective and they are killing children and women and elderly and getting American soldiers killed to restore democracy** I agree ONE soldiers life isn't worth that whole p*** ant country but, it's not our guys that are DAILY driving car and truck bombs into markets or resturaunts or dining halls or wedding parties or funeral processions, is it? We aren't above critical reproach and investigation but, until we sink to those levels as an accepted way to make your political views public, I will pick "our side" thank you very much.

Public Comments

1. It is a terrorist group and should be DESTROYED ASAP>
2. Bombs and dead civilians have no place in politics or religion. this 'organization' should be exposed for the band of thugs that it is.
3. Hamas is the modern day Adolf Hitler. Destroy it ASAP. Its evil incarnate. All these answers are great emotional upheavals. But then its the opinion of sane people and must be given respect. What about Christian democrat parties, by the way. What about George W. Bush's adherence to the holy book? Does secular minds who condemn hamas realize that religious doctrines are always there. Faith is the common denominator of all of us. If I am a Christian, I have no right to condemn those who are not. US government has taken a U turn after failing to find WM-D's and told the world that its democracy whose restoration is their primary objective and they are killing children and women and elderly and getting American soldiers killed to restore democracy. If a people have elected Hamas as their political leadership why do we start to object then? When will we get rid of our hypocrisy? World is fed up of US policies of hegemony and 'pick and chose' only those 'democracies' which suits its expansion plans. Like in Pakistan US backs a general who came to power after toppling a democratically elected government. Double standards have only instilled in our minds a false sense of superiority and 'rulers of the world' which is catastrophic for the peace. Regional as well as global. IRA was not Muslims, the Oklahoma bombings and the Columbine high school massacres had nothing to do with Islam or Hamas or Muslims in general. Lets stop at policing the planet and thrusting upon them what we think is right. Others have their rights and they have all the moral rights to exercise them. Wake up! Please. annexure: "one US sodier is not worth all the population of P... (or whatever the conquered country the question-er had in mind). Its patriotic and I fully agree. Every nation must respect his soil and soul. For every nation the right is there to sanctify its own people. Driving car bombs is what exactly american would do if Iraq or Mexico would have ruthlessly bombed it slaying all the moral reasoning. When you drive a nation's own people out of their homes with force or fear, then you don't expect garlands. Lets face it, I"m not Iraqi or supporter of terrorist activities. But when we take the basic rights of other people in our hands, then we must be prepared for backlash. Are we forgettng the lessons of Vietnam war? The viet kong guerillas ambushed, killed, burnt and maimed american soldiers there till the US realised its too damaging and had to accept defeat (no offence). Now I didnt read anywhere that Vietnamese were Muslims. If George W. Bush is secular and wages war against a code of ethics and is proud to be christian, then Hammas is secular too. That answers the question? Annexure II: A very good example of how media influences the minds of (largely) US citizens is here. "...we see them wearing those masks,.. next thing we see is riots...and protests." The answer-er is right in asserting that she/he thinks its not good because of what she/he sees, and admits that "I dont know a lot about them." That is the root cause of so many misunderstanding. Without having a fair knowledge, we label people as 'bad' just because fox/abc/nbc says so. Yes Hamas is a political organization. Just like Republicans or Democrats. It won recently held elections and got a right to elect its leader as the head of the Palestenian government. That is what democracy is. Give the people right to choose. US policiy to enforce democracy on other nations didn't need another attack on Palestine on this pretext at least. They have elected representation. But can we take from the right to protest if a foreign force takes from them their own land and resources? Is it not terrorism? And if Hamas or others protest, are they not justified in the face of the terror of occupation forces? Did French after capitulation by Germans not wage a guerilla warfare to free their country? We honor them as freedom fighters. Why then we discriminate when other people ask for their rights? I"m sorry to have brought Iraq in. Yes it was not relevant.
4. I dont know a lot about them but it seems everytime i hear "hamas" on the news its something bad happening or already happened. On TV they are always parading on the streets wearing those silly green masks carring guns and those rocket things and protesting something. then the next day or two theys a riot, burning stuff up or a bomb or shootings and you hear "hamas" again. I know all that may not be anything scientific but its like "where theres smoke theres fire" so what ever they are I say its not good just because of the stuff that happens where ever they are.