Al qaeda: what they want....

[Ruinel]

{Under the risk that this thread will soon become either a "bash America" thread, or will become a thread where personal attacks will cause this thread to be closed... I open up a discussion.}
Doing some research online, just to try to understand what is going on in the world. I came across this from the BBC...

... [snip]...
These Jihadi warriors share the belief that they have an obligation to fight the oppressors of their Muslim brothers, from Palestinians in the Middle East to Muslims in Chechnya. And to all Jihadis, the chief oppressor is the United States, a nation they regard as the "Great Satan".
...[snip]...
The initial breakthrough came over Christmas 2000 when the German equivalent of the SAS burst in on a flat in Frankfurt. They arrested four men and uncovered an arsenal with bomb-making chemicals, weapons, cloned credit cards and false documents.

The men were all finally convicted of plotting to bomb Strasbourg. What was believed to be a reconnaissance video was found in the flat, its most prominent feature a lingering sequence on that city's famous Christmas market. That, investigators believed, was the intended target. If the bomb had gone off, there would have been carnage.
...[snip]...
The French had bitter experience of Algerian Islamic extremists, and had fought them for many years after their offshoots had carried out a series of bombings in Paris and Lille in the mid-90s.

The intelligence built up over this period by the French proved invaluable. The role of the UK's MI5 and Special Branch was also crucial since many Algerian extremists had sought refuge in London after the crackdown in France. The centre of the network was believed to be in London.
...[snip]...
But was the hand of al-Qaeda behind the network?

What appeared to be conclusive proof came from Italian intelligence agents who intercepted a phone call from Milan to Afghanistan. It was made by a suspected Egyptian terrorist, Es Sayed, who had fled to Italy.
...[snip]...
As David Veness chillingly warns, an attack on the UK is not a matter of if but when.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3476121.stm


a) What oppression of Muslims are they taking about?
b) What would make the US the "Great Satan", if they're plotting against all "Western" countries (meaning Europe, as well)?
c) What, if anything, would change their minds about "the West"?