Taking the the title here at face value - nurturing terrorists, i.e. encouraging them to flourish and grow - is what the US <i>is</i> already doing, by invading various Muslim countries, and considering invading more - I hear Yemen is high on the list.<p>But of course the actual article is not about nurturing terrorists, but rather based on mistaken notions of the motivations of Islamic extremists ("they hate our freedom" and other bullshit, and I don't use that word lightly).<p>Islamic fundamentalists are playing a power game. It works like this: US-friendly regimes supply the US with energy in return for support in various forms. These regimes rule with a tight fist to keep everything in line, because in heavily resource-dependent economies money flows in from the top down - the people down below don't particularly need to be appeased. So, the ruling elite isn't exactly popular. How to overthrow them? Attack the elite's biggest strength, its closeness to the US. By selling the US to the relatively moderate Muslim public as the great satan etc., they can try to foment revolution. The biggest thing that would help this is the US out killing Muslims in very visible and arrogant fashion. The US invading Afghanistan and Iraq, making moves at Iran, bribing Egypt to blockade the elected government of the Gaza strip, etc. etc. all play in to Al-Qaeda strategy.<p>The US is its own biggest enemy here, especially when governed by self-described "strong" leaders who predictably (i.e. weak-mindedly) attack when provoked, and a populace with a strong streak of Old Testament style "eye for an eye" vengance.