It has been my observation that, of the Muslims I've known in the USA, the UK, in Japan, and in Turkey, most want to just live quiet lives, run successful businesses, and take care of themselves and their families: good God fearing people who tend to hang out in libraries. I don't know about libraries, but thank you.
Having said that, I see Islam itself as a political ideology masquerading as a religion, prone to being hijacked by power mad demagogues, and a threat to civilization
Religions are routinely hijacked by power-mad demagogues. Indeed, the Christian experience has not been dissimilar, and episodes of frenzied bloodshed in the name of God-- while not recent, are both numerous and horrific. The role of good men is to remain eternally vigilant against such people. As far as Islam itself is concerned, I think the Wahabbi heresy (like the Kharijite heresy of 1400 years ago), is indeed-- as you so eloquently put it-- "a political ideology masquerading as religion".
I always make a distinction between Muslims and Islamicists: Islamicists want to conquer the world. Check out my profile page to see what my fear is. As far as Christianity and politics is concerned, the Reformation and the rise of nationalism in the West has made the idea of subordinating the secular power to the church, à la the Middle Ages, a very queer one indeed. I would very much like to know if there are any serious Islamic theologians who can "reform" Islam so that it may be content to live under secular authority.