That seems fair, Michael. I am not sure that I fully agree but it seems, to me at any rate, that your issue is with the basic tenets of the Moslem faith. I would probably go that far, if I believed that those tenets were as valid today as they were in Mohammed's time.

Having been brought up in the Russian Orthodox faith and then converted to Catholicism, prior to my ever having any say in the matter, I am aware of the tenets of those branches of Christianity. I know for certain that their adherents could be as violent as any Imam! I have been in the Ukraine and Belorussian clubs when expatriate Cossacks have called for the sacking of both Jewish and Moslem states and the death of their peoples.

Nearer home I have recited, without thought I must say, the Roman Catholic creed where it says 'I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church'. I was told to believe in a Universal church and the ultimate authority of the Pope. That all who did not believe were not worth considering as they would burn in the fires of hell and that anyone, including babies and those who could never have even heard of JC, would never enter heaven.

Yes, I know that we no longer believe a fraction of that but I also believe that, as most people have the same basic thought patterns, most Moslems do not believe in their more extreme tenets either. What we are dealing with is a faction within the Islamic faith who want to stick to those old principles in a misguided attempt to retain or gain some power of their own. We have them in every culture and I do not think they are more prevalent in Islam than they are are anywhere. But, in today's technological age, they are more noticeable and potentially more dangerous.

I am not trying to dilute the actions of these terrorists by stating others are as bad as I find that a very poor argument. After all, two wrongs have never made a right. But I do believe that you may be overstating the case. That is your prerogative and only time will tell who was right. I do hope my view is more in keeping with what will happen. But I suspect that neither of us will be around to see the end game :-)

Cheers

DtG