There is a principle in Islam whereby the latter verses of the Koran, when they conflict with earlier verses, are the ones that prevail. (And generally the latter parts of the Koran are the more militant ones.) Jacoby ignores that, quotes an early verse, and leaves it at that.
His logic is similarly riddled throughout. Surveys show majorities in most of the Muslim world believe that sharia law should be enforced as the law of the land, even though a majority of Muslims aren’t personally geared toward becoming violent themselves. And, part of Islam’s stated strategy is to move peacefully into a new area until the conditions can be created to prevail by force.
Jacoby is the Globe’s token ‘conservative’ writer, and we know how that tends to work out over time.
*has been*