Re: An interesting ...dissection

Submitted by Reuben Horne (Australia), Aug 22, 2005 at 22:10

Dr Pipes,
Your analysis of this matter and the categories you divide Islam into are no doubt based on careful consideration, exhaustive research and deep reflection. However you seem to have disregarded those who use Islamism for political reasons within the Middle East. I do not know for example whether one would regard ignominious states such as Syria as Islamist ones but there does appear to be a dynamic within Middle Eastern Governments for using Islamist groups (as well as harboring and funding them) to achieve political aims in the region and Syria has certainly backed its share of terrorists as has Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan etc etc. Who are these people who make use of the terrorists but are not necessarily ideologically oriented in the same direction? Could they make up a possible fourth category?
Cordially,
Reuben Horne.

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