[Hound of the Baskervilles]

I think this was an excellent article. It is the kind of thinking the pope wants to set in motion. I think the author is right on the money about Wahhabism being the main source of violence these days, but he got things backwards. If the Muslim countries had prosperity and modern achievements to be proud of, extremism would not get a foothold. Wahhabism started 200 years ago, long before Israel became a thorn in the Middle East's side and long before American influence came to be. Something else is wrong. Muslim countries must start looking inward, not outward for the solutions to their problems. We can only hope that the pope's words will cause Muslims to examine themselves and start taking responsibility for their backward situation in the modern world.

[Running On Empty]

Thanks for this thoughtful and informative post.

[LifeOrGoods?]

If the Muslim countries had prosperity and modern achievements to be proud of, extremism would not get a foothold.

Muslims would have to stop blowing up their buildings and killing each other before any prosperity and achievement could ever occur. The majority of Muslims who are civilized decide to move to free countries and live secular lives making more money then they could ever dream of making in a third world armpit of a country they were birthed into.

Muslim countries are no more than tribes with flags. Islam is a religion of force and fear. Islam has no political teeth without those two elements. People do not choose Islam, they are born into it or forced into it.

[gleeaikin]

"Wahhabism started 200 years ago."

Winchester's book on the great eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia in 1883 has interesting details on the Islamic issue. Apparently, even then when muslim pilgrims went to Mecca they were being recruited into radical Islam, presumable Wahhabism, primarily in Yemen. After indoctrination they were sent back to stir up the people. The devastating eruption and the inadequacy of the Dutch colonial response (think Katrina) gave them a perfect opportunity to foment revolution, which they did.

I don't think we have to worry about Islam overcoming the West. We have moved steadily ahead over the past several hundred years, as women have gained more and more influence in the economy and well being of our countries. No people that marginalizes the contribution of one half its adults can do as well as one that uses all adult capabilities.