Bush Declares War on Radical Islam

Submitted by NTM (United States), Oct 11, 2005 at 18:34

In reference to President Bush's comments regarding the desire of radical Islamists to control parts of the world between Spain and Indonesia. It is my understanding that these regions were once controlled by Islamic rulers during the Ottoman Empire. It is also my understanding that Islam considers all lands that have been controlled by Islam to always belong to Islam. I believe this may have been what President Bush was referring to in his speech.

I do not disagree that radical Islamists do not have desires to spread control to other areas of the world. The spread of the Ottoman Empire was stopped by the French from spreading farther north into Europe and by the Swedes from spreading farther west into Europe. It was not until World War I that the Ottoman Empire fell and lands under its control were divided. I believe that radical Islamists see regaining these areas for Islam as a goal.

And, while all Muslims understand this history they do not all subscribe to the tactics or means used to accomplish such a goal. No more than most Christians in the U.S. would subscribe to the ideas of radical fundamentalist groups in our country who teach hatred of others because of race or religion.

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