[Publius6961]

In one way scheme of history, the Crusdaes were part of the counter-attack by Christianity against Islam, after it (Islam) had been stopped at the gates of Vienna and on the east slopes of the Pyrennes.

Of course the Crusades was a brief counterattack on islam, but we can't make that clear in a liberal production.
At the very start of the islamo-mercial, the Pope is depicted as inventing a "war" far away, to distract the Christians in Europe from fighting among themselves by attacking peace-loving muslims minding their own business killing, raping, capturing slaves and jannisaries back east somewhere...

[Don W]

I'm glad you mentioned janissaries, as I recently read an OLD novel in which the main character was one.

It's titled "The Gentle Infidel", and sorry, I can't remember the author's name.

The main character is pressed into service under false pretences, is used by (among other muslim carpetbaggers), a clever muslim couple to further their aims, and ends up... well, I don't want to ruin the read.

I really enjoyed the read, though it does use some archaic language structure.

I *do* have the book still, but it's somewhere in a box, waiting for me to finish my library shelves.