Umm, actually he's a multi-generation white American, mostly Welsh ancestry, grew up in CA. He converted back in the early 70s because he thought Christians were too violent. (He's well aware of the irony of this choice. But we should remember that absolutely nobody thought Islam was some kind of threat in 1972. It was just one of those cute multi-cultural religions.)
I don't really disagree with anything you say.
John is just as opposed to Islamists as I am, which is saying quite a bit. He would turn in those plotting attacks immediately.
Which is why I get a little testy when people come out with the "all Muslims are ..." stuff.
It's different when you were brought up Muslim, your family is Muslim, and your closest friends are Muslim. In such a case, even if you were only nominally a believer, if push came to shove you would be more likely to side with the radical Muslims than to abandon Islam.