[tycho102]

Originally Posted by The Avon Lady

It's the people AND the religion.

I disagree, but only with the specifics. I think it's the current hierarchy of the religion. It's the madarassas (however it's spelled; Muslim school) and the Imams and Ayatollahs and clerics. It's the way they are "teaching" the religion. They are focusing on the second half of the Koran, after Muhammed conquered Mecca, and not the Medina side of the Koran. Plus all the hadith.

They just pick and choose what to teach, and for the past 1000 years, the violent side has been the most successful. People like power, and the Ayatollahs want as many "believers" as possible, since they get to rule over more people.

We end up fighting the religion, yes. Because of the way it's been taught, and because of the feudal systems of government that Muslim leaders enjoy. Control literacy, and you can control the people; it's been that way since the Incans and Egyptians flourished. Since North Korea was founded.

Also, there is something to be said for subjugating an area, rather than liberating it. Subjugate then liberate; vice versa doesn't work, and hasn't worked. At least, I cannot think of a single historical example with populations larger than 5 million; liberation worked for the French during their civil war, but that was just the Bastille.