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Reader comment on item: Daniel Pipes fights the worldwide threat of Islamism - from Malibu

Submitted by Edward Halper (United States), Mar 6, 2007 at 16:37

An excellent article except for the last line. It suggests an unfounded optimism that is at odds with the rest of the piece. The Islamists have shown themselves extremely skillful in garnering support from Muslims in the US and the west, the people who should be most appreciative of the freedoms they enjoy in a democracy.

I'm afraid that it will be a long time before Muslims "try something else." First, they need the conceptual space to conceive of practicing Islam in a democratic environment that tolerates dissent.

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