IMHO, the reasons for the West's, The US in particular, studious ignorance of these aspects of Islam, are twofold:
1
The feared and very likely, popular reaction to the Muslim invasion of Western Europe by immigration is going to be extremely severe and chaotic. It will probably begin in Italy or the South of France. If you were to walk the streets of Toulon or Marseilles today, you would find them little different from those of Marrakech. I cannot imagine the feisty Provençaux putting up with that level of filth for much longer. However, on the official level, the euroweenies will send out engraved invitations to their daughters' circumcision party before they would risk an accusation of being politically incorrect.
2
Here in the US, the authorities fear a helter-skelter type armed reaction to the next al-qaida outrage. This could be exactly what al-qaida is trying to provoke. Muslims have to know that this is, after all, still an armed populace, so they must know that this is a possibility. They could well be planning for just that. I think this explains Bush's bland and fatuous statements on the "highjacked ROP."
The irony of all this is that in the WOT, we are, in numerical terms, facing far more Muslims than all of the enemy forces in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam combined. Even if you buy the absurd "Islam is a ROP that has been high-jacked" crap, we have to make people, especially potential Kerry voters, understand that this is a real war, just as real as the Revolution and apt to last 5 times as long. The stakes are a lot higher, too.
GWB and the Republicans have in no way made that clear.
>>GWB and the Republicans have in no way made that clear.
Very true. Unfortunately, it is probably also true that, on this issue, for the vast majority of those in our country, the words of Colonel Nathan Jessep ring true: "You can't handle the truth!"
I'm fresh out of good ideas on how to change this. I think it will take a 10X 9/11 event, and I'm really not sure that would do it. I fear I will get to see, in my lifetime.