Because you wrote it, I’m going to go out of my way to remain as respectful as possible when commenting here. Of course, that’s not to say I’m going to pull the actual punches.

“As a former journalist, I believe in freedom of speech. That means that I approve all reader comments as long as they are neither spam nor unrelated to the subject matter of the given post. As a result, comments may include profanity and language that may be considered hurtful towards particular ethnicities, religions, races, or other groups. I think it is important that people communicate honestly and openly about the subjects discussed here. Whenever a person insults a group of people or presents inaccurate facts, I will do my best to respond in the comments myself. I hope that other readers will do the same.”

Religious Muslims? Is there any other kind?

“Anti-Semitism had actually been rare in the Middle East until the Nazis began spreading their propaganda in Arab countries.”

Wow, it’s amazing that confusion over that dateline didn’t result after the Jews moved into the piece of land formerly known as Palestine. It’s good to know the truth of the matter. It was the Nazis’ fault. Their prior propaganda made the wholesale removal of people from their native lands seem somehow wrong to the individuals in question.

“Following the devastation of World War II, Great Britain was unable to keep its colonies in the Middle East. So independent states were formed — including Israel in 1948.”

Based on the the fact that Palestine was then considered no use as a name, and the other fact that the majority of the natives on that land were Jewish? Or what?

The following doesn’t appear to concur that the majority was ever Jewish in modern times, prior to the formation of the State of Israel.

1945 Population

Total 1,764,520
Muslim 1,061,270 (60%)
Jew 553,600 (31%)
Christian 135,550 (8%)
Other 14,100 (1%)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Mandate_of_Palestine#Population

“This defeat was viewed as an utter humiliation because five whole countries could not defeat 500,000 Jews.”

So, what was the Holocaust seen as? I know people can be sensitive toward any such question, but since you brought the subject of defeat/incapacity or unwillingness to fight, I ask in all seriousness: Is the Holocaust held by Jews to represent an utter humiliation also?

“The Palestinian refugee situation that has existed for decades has also inflamed Islamic rage. This cause, which is used by authoritarian governments to direct the people’s anger towards something else, has united people in Arab and Muslim countries who would have otherwise had no other connection to each other.”

And that “cause” has no alternative place in the story? It is a non-event in itself, and only of use to Muslim dictators with a view to population control?

“In the 1990s, bin Laden decided to attack the United States since the country was viewed as the “head” of “the West.” ”

Osama bin Laden is not wanted by the FBI in connection with any attacks on US soil, including that of 911. So, where do you get the above from? If you meant attacks on US interests and assets not connected with 911, why didn’t you specify that, and why did you specifically include that reference here?

“The history I’ve described is very complex, but there are common themes of anger, frustration and shame.”

Is that why Israelis and Jews are so hostile? Surely there can be no greater source of anger, frustration and shame for a people than the Holocaust. Do Israel and the Jewish people, then, desire murderous revenge on Germany and the other members of the WW2 Axis? If not, surely your thesis regarding the motives of the Arabs and other Muslims falls apart?

“Many Arabs and Muslims on the “street” are angry because they feel as though they have been victimized since 1918.”

Wow, imagine how they’d feel (and react) if they’d been victimized for thousands of years?

I’m not against Jews or Israel. However, I believe that one-sided, smug generalizations usually contribute to, not ameliorate, the problem.

I respectfully suggest that you reread the above blog, and visualize a citizen of a hypothetically successful Nazi Germany making the same post, substituting “Jews” for “Arabs” and “Muslims” in the text. Tell me you wouldn’t be offended. Tell me we wouldn’t have cause to suspect that the writer was something of a sneering bigot.

If you are going to give Western imperialism/domination as the reason for 9/11 then with what is going on in the Congo now, then we can expect a terrorism attack from the Africans anytime soon now.

Add to the first line…“India, China & non-Islamic east” and this sums up the whole article of yours. One thing has to be mentioned that, this resort to extremism is doing them no good. It is only deteriorating their image. In my land, people from such back-grounds face suspicious eyes even if they are merely strolling with their children in public places. Others see their presence as a threat!