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It may surprise you that I agree wholeheartedly with what you say. However, your post sidesteps my point.

How you or I may interpret that verse are evidently two different things, and I can live with that. However, the only relevant interpretation is the interpretation of those who are willing to act on their belief, the Islamic fundamentalist. That is the heart of the problem, and to pretend otherwise is to stick your head in the sand and let some smelly bearded diaper-head have their way with what still sticks out.

They ARE acting in the name of their religion, whether you care to see it or not.Consider this passage, attributed to Al Zarqawi just before he removed the head of Nick Berg

"how can free Muslims sleep soundly as they see Islam being slaughtered, honour bleeding, photographs of shame and reports of satanic degradation of the people of Islam, men and women, in Abu Ghraib prison? ‘‘Where is the care, fervor and rage for the faith of God, where is the concern for the sanctities of Muslims and where is the revenge for the honour of Muslims in the crusader prisons?

‘‘As for you Islamic scholars, you will answer to God. Do you not see...the Muslim youth who humiliated the greatest power in history, cut off its nose and shattered its arrogance. ‘‘Do you not see that it is time for you to learn from them the meanings of responsibility and sacrifice. Until when shall you remain like women, excelling only in...wailing and crying? ‘‘

This statement, and the removal of Mr. Bergs head, where both intended to be a call to Islam for a holy war. This really is about their religion, whether or not you care to see it. In order to defend ourselves, we need to see the real enemy, and what his intentions actually are.

I agree that they are acting in the name of their religion...as it suits them...

I would suggest that in the future, when posting Islamic quotes, you include some of these...

The Holy Qur'an > Surah Al-Baqarah> Verse 11
When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "Why, we only want to make peace!"

"If anyone harms (others), God will harm him, and if anyone shows hostility to others, God will show hostility to him." Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1625

"Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." Fourth Hadith of an-Nawawi 13

"O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should despise one another). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous." Chapter 49, Verse 13

"God does not forbid you to be kind and equitable to those who have neither fought against your faith nor driven you out of your homes. In fact God loves the equitable." Chapter 60, Verse 8

"And in their [the earlier prophets] footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the law that had come before him. We sent him the Gospel, therein was guidance and light and confirmation of the law that had come before him, a guidance and an admonition to those who fear God." Chapter 5, Verse 46

"Repel (evil) with what is better. Then will he, between whom and thee was hatred, become as it were thy friend and intimate. And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint." Chapter 41, Verse 34 and 35

"Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden (paradise) whose width is that of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous - Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity or in adversity, who restrain (their) anger and pardon (all) men - for God loves those who do good." Chapter 3, Verses 133-134

"And what will explain to you what the steep path is? It is the freeing of a (slave) from bondage; or the giving of food in a day of famine to an orphan relative, or to a needy in distress. Then will he be of those who believe, enjoin fortitude and encourage kindness and compassion." Chapter 90, Verses 12-17

"Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant." Chapter 7, Verse 199

"Say ye: 'We believe in God and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord. We make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to God.' " Chapter 2, Verse 136

"Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 38

"Avoid cruelty and injustice...and guard yourselves against miserliness, for this has ruined nations who lived before you." Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 203.

See, even the terrorists do not obey all of their tenets.