The problem with Islam

[Brenus]

Ah, the KabirChobbe I like. More Marxism, less Bushism, it is what we need. The victory of people like Bush (and some extend Bin Laden) is that they oblige people to think like them.

Go back to the roots, economy and power. Even the St Barthelemy was for that. Henri III, last of the Valois dynasty, had no heir (well, he was gay…). His successor was Henri de Navarre, whose mother was nicknamed the Queen of the Protestants. He was himself a protestant and got married with Margot (Have you seen the movie, The Queen Margot?) daughter of Catherine de Medicis. The other head of the Protestants (Admiral Coligny) was also in Paris, so the King decided to eliminate all opposition. So a spontaneous and popular up-rising occurred and all the Protestants were slaughtered. Well, excepted the target, Henri de Navarre escaped and became Henri IV, first of the Bourbon, later… And he was assassinated by a Monk (Ravaillac).
So, yes, war of Religion, but politic ruled like it rules now.

“Still, I remain somewhat entrenched in the premise that Western nations have either directly or inadvertantly contributed to the rise of radical Islam”. Yes, of course. The support to the Saudi, one of the most conservative lecture of the Koran, the perpetual mixing-up of politic and religion (the main members of the PLO were Christian), the real ignorance of what is Islam, al that contributed to the Radicalism of Islam. If you tell every day that the people who defend their land are the Muslim, well all the Muslim are happy. If they are defeated, all Muslim are humiliated and some will go for more extremism.
The Western Countries didn’t help dictatorships only when they were Muslim (Pinochet, Videla, Somoza, Mobutu, etc). But with the so-called shock of the cultures, the identification is more obvious. As a French, I can sympathise with the Chileans, however I a not from this country. So, I won’t go in the Jungle to fight for Chile’s freedom, if there is jungle in Chile. However, as a Muslim, I can identify myself with another Muslim (If I was a Muslim…).

One fact to include is the fall of Communism. Before, it was possible to refer to other big ideology to express yourself in opposition of the US and capitalists. Now, the only refuges available are nationalism and/or religions. When both coincide in a dream like the Uma, it will create extremists. And when it is so obvious than a conventional war can't win, you go from terrorism, the asymmetric war, where the wreakers can win.