Iraq and Terrorists

I just heard a commentator on MSNBC describe Iraq as a "magnet for terrorists." Assuming the term "terrorist" has any real definitional meaning, I am quite sure that it is not so much a "magnet" as a training site for terrorists. The idea that it is a magnet presumes that there are these "terrorists" lurking out there in the world and then certain places or events attracts them. This misses the fact that a person who takes up arms in this anarchic (terrorist) manner is, most likely, someone who was not so inclined until certain events occurred in their life or in the lives of those they care about, at which time they seek out some means of expressing their anger, desire for revenge, etc. What Iraq has provided is both a catalyst for this conversion to anarchic violence and retribution (or the seeking to overturn an order of power that is believed to be evil or the source of injustice) and a training ground the converted, so that they might get better at what they do or seek to do. The tragedy of Iraq (or, better said, one of the tragedies of Iraq) is that it will serve to make the planet a bit more violent than it was prior to our occupation of that land.