[nonomous]

philosofy123,

>1) Did you know that Moslem women during the fifties,
>and sixties never covered their heads, and dressed
>in Western miniskirts. Explain how you go backward
>one thousand years within 30 years.

Two changes explain the rise in mullah power: Petro-dollars and communication technologies. First, the Saudi government funneled petro-dollars to fundamentalist mullahs. Next the fundamentalist mullahs got their own oil fields via the Iranian 'revolution'. Street media: cassette tapes and the internet allow the mullahs to go underneath 'state-controlled media' and mold the aspirations of the poorly educated.

>2) The practice of social engineering in the US
>was never implemented in the Moslem world by
>the West in the past 30 years, rather the
>fanatical Saudis/Iranians were allowed sole
>access to the Moslem population to turn them
>into radical chauvinist bunch.

And the point is?

>Pipes, and me believe that with enough resources
>and determination the West can positively influence
>reformation of that religion, and help marginalize
>its radical fringes.

Ok, where would the 'resources' would be spent? Where are the 'moderates' who can defend themselves from the assassins sent by petro-dollar mullahs?

>Today unfortunately 99% of Moslems support those
>radical fringes for POLITICAL reasons.

Major mistake. The distinction 'political' vs 'theological' isn't available to that 99%. One must get beyond a tribal world-view, first. And, a tribal world view may be that which is best suited for the internet-era.

[philosofy123]

You appear to be knowledgable about the subject. My point was for more than 30 years the radical Islamic movement was allowed to radicalize the Moslem world without a challange from the West. That is either failure on our part, or our politicians were on the take financially?