Interesting paper: "Democratizing Islam"

[SPQR]

I only give this for your information. You certainly can draw your own conclusions from reading this paper...


Since September 11, an “Axis of Evil” is said to threaten mankind. It has been given various names: “Islamic fundamentalism”, “Islamism”, “militant Islam”, “Wahhabism”, etc. Each of these appellations is said to be an extreme form of Islam. The issue is of strategic significance. It is one thing to confront what may only be a fringe element of Islam; it is quite another if this element lurks in the hearts of Muslims everywhere and can everywhere explode into fanatical fury. Moreover, the United States may have the wherewithal to win a war against a supposedly marginal aspect of Islam. But that America possesses the wisdom and perseverance to win a war against Islam per se and then transform various Islamic regimes into democracies is rather dubious...

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From its very inception, classical Islam fused religion and government, faith and power – with power concentrated in Muhammad and his successors, the caliphs. Within 100 years of its founding, Islam conquered much of the civilized world, spreading throughout Southwest Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. These were regions of ancient, advanced, and deep-rooted civilizations. They were totally obliterated and replaced by Islam...

Read the whole paper:

http://www.acpr.org.il/ENGLISH-NATIV...idelberg-6.htm
Paul Eidelberg: Democratizing Islam