Islam and Imperialism

A great article in today's online Opinion Journal from the Wall Street Journal. otep@djoj.opinionjournal.com

I have long argued that Islamic current aggressive attacks on the USA have little or nothing to do with America's current or foreign policies. In fact, it has little to do with America other than we are seen by Islam as Christians who defeated them in the Crusades. However, the rage, hatred and shame associated with the USA predates our founding by many years.

Take a look at this paragraph from the Journal article.

Like their Arab predecessors, the Ottomans were energetic empire-builders in the name of jihad. By the early 16th century, they had conquered Syria and Egypt from the Mamluks, the formidable slave soldiers who had contained the Mongols and destroyed the Crusader kingdoms.

Under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, they soon turned northward. By the middle of the 17th century they seemed poised to overrun Christian Europe, only to be turned back in fierce fighting at the gates of Vienna in 1683--on September 11, of all dates.

Islam has always been aggressive imperialists since the days of Muhammad. They always will be for it is in their DNA by his statements and calls to expand Islam around the world. The largest Islamic nation is not Arabic but is Indonesia and it has the most radical imperialists.