"Isn't the current problems with terrorism related to misinterpretations of the Islam faith by extremists?"
I believe, from what I have read, that the extremists are the ones interpreting Islam correctly. Any 'religion' that one can not come to freely is not a religion, but a cult of ideology. Conversion by the sword is the only way Islam has propagated itself. If these people would come to a period of enlightenment as did the Christians, the world would be a better place. As it is now, Islam cannot co-exist with western society. As it is now, Islam is not deserving of respect.
"As it is now" is all it will ever be.