[djmcmath]

It makes relatively little sense to discuss Muslim terrorism without some background in the Koran. That and a brief history lesson will take you a long ways towards understanding Islamic fundamentalism.

It should be noted that Muslims do not always engage in terrorism -- only when they lack the means to make real war do they do so. In the early days, it was Muhammed and his raiders, snatching poorly armed caravans as they trekked across the desert. IIRC, the Muslims had an important forgotten role in the Crusades, as well. People fail to note that Muslims had captured Jerusalem and were executing the unbearable occupation demanded by the Koran, and that English Christians "started" the Crusades in an effort to liberate Jerusalem. From Muslim sources, you will read about how "Islam spread," though they don't mention that it spread through war. The Crusades were a series of wars "started by Christians in an effort to win back lands taken by Islam."

(sigh) But I digress. The Koran makes no bones about it -- peaceful coexistence is not an option. There is the House of Islam, and there is Everybody Else. Everybody Else must either be killed, converted, or subjected to crippling occupation -- again, the Koran leaves no choices here. The places where Islam appears to peacefully coexist fall into one of two categories.
1 - Not primarily fundamentalist population. In the same way that many Christians, Catholics, etc. routinely go to church, own a Bible, or otherwise have some signs of "religion," but do not lead lives that reflect the professed belief, many Muslims attend mosques and own Korans, but do not live lives reflective of the fundamentals of the belief. We can only hope this continues in these places.
2 - Dormant Muslims. This was the case in Spain for a long time. The Spanish Muslim population has grown dramatically in the last 10-15 years, but until recently has refrained from terrorist activites. What brought them out of dormancy? Beats me. Will American Muslims do the same when called upon by some trigger? Will heretofore peaceful mullahs incite their people to rebellion and terrorism?

Les -- I don't think the Muslims see it the same way you do. Rather than thinking they can't win, they seem to believe that winning is inevitable, ultimately. The hope is that the rest of the world doesn't figure it out in time. If enough countries become crippled against involvement by their Muslim majorities, then the Muslims will win, no doubt about it.


Dan