So when they tell you about the kind, gentle, peaceful nature of Islam, be warned they could be lying. If they say they are not lying, they could be lying about that, too.
Be warned.
I spent some time in the middle east about ten years ago and was thinking about this subject just yesterday. I keep hearing about the 'peaceful' side of Islam, but something kept nagging at me. I thought back to my time in the middle east and came up with exactly what you said--you never knew if they were telling the truth or not. Machiavelli was a piker compared to these people. The end justifying the means is a way of life for them.