I think Dave and Don likewise have been talking quite a bit of sense here. I don't know why these threads need to end up polarised between two opposing viewpoints (Jim v's Keith) when world events are usually a bit less simple than being on either Jim's side or Keith's side. The men involved in this killing, were crystal clear about why they did what they did. There was a perfectly coherent political motive. They were also clear about doing it explicitly in the name of Allah. So the killing was also religiously motivated. Considering the amount of politically and religiously motivated violence we see on the news every day, sadly I find neither of these things either shocking or unusual.