Reply #68: Religion is not the only variable here

[shrike]

Dangerous and simplistic way to look at this. Lot more involved.
Religion extremism does not take root in a vacuum. The Mideast -- and other parts of the world -- have endured 60 years of our foreign policy. Why do you think Latin America (Roman Catholic, BTW) is pulling away from us? They've had enough.
We've been pulling shenanigans in the Arab world for years (and not just for the sake of Israel). Do you think that the Arabs and other ethnic groups don't know that? Do you think they don't know we supported Saddam, turned a blind eye to his atrocities until he was no longer useful to us? Angry people tend to band together and oftimes angry people turn to religion to make their point. (Although not always. The Tamil Tigers, one of the most active and dangerous terrorist groups in the world, has no religious affiliation.)
Also, when one positions oneself on the moral high road, one should take care to stay on that road.