I wish I could believe it

Submitted by Greg (United States), Dec 28, 2004 at 16:39

Dr. Pipes,

You say the violent Islam we're seeing is less than a century old, but it seems the violent Islam we're seeing is the only version that's been taught since it originated. I'm certainly no expect on the subject but I think any chance for reformation passed a long time ago.

When I began looking at this subject, I began with optimism. I believed what I heard that the radicals were few in number. However, when I learned there is an estimated 100,000,000 radicals and possibly many more millions, well, I'm no longer optimistic. There is just not enough time remaining to reform this cult of death--they can recruit a lot faster than we can reform.

I believe the fundamentalist Islam of today is the greatest threat the world has ever faced. A threat that is still not fully recognized in the world (especially in western civilizations). I'm convinced the answer is to eliminate fundamentalist Islam from the face of the earth.

Dr. Pipes, you are brilliant, you do a great service to this country and I hope you are right, but I'd feel a lot better erring on the side of caution rather than risk our civilization on a task that is seemingly impossible.

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