Quote Originally Posted by Zaknafien
I don't think that has anything to do with the appeal that AQ broadly has to a majority of Islamic adherrants across the world, however.
I bridled at this reference to AQ appealing to the majority of Muslims (much as I silently blanched at your earlier reference to having to kill the majority of Muslims in the world).

However, a google search (Al Qaeda opinion poll Muslims) through up the following as the first hit, which is quite interesting:

http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pi...t=346&lb=hmpg1

The majority in four big Muslim countries support some of AQ goals - I would describe them as AQs limited goals - such as stopping US support for Israel and expelling US forces from Muslim countries. They also view US policy as being aimed against Islam.

However, a very large majority oppose AQs methods - specifically attacks on civilians. That's pretty important, given that the defining feature of AQ is arguably its methods rather than its Islamicism (lots of Islamic regimes and parties in the world that don't go crashing planes into buildings).

They are also pro-democracy and pro-globalisation, so I am sceptical of the extent to which they support AQs deeper goals or values.