The Root Cause

Muslim pressure groups like the Council on American Islamic Relations vociferously object to anyone who dares to link Islam to terrorism. When President Bush recently uttered the phrase "Islamic fascists" when speaking with the press, CAIR could not denounce the President's statements fast enough. Muslim propagandist groups like CAIR and its fellow travellers insist that Americans (and other Westerners) deny the obvious evidence provided by their own eyes and ears. No matter that virtually all terrorism committed against the US (and mostly, the West) is at the hands of Muslims. No matter that these Muslim terrorists proclaim their allegiance to Islam as the motivation for their actions. No matter that these terrorists try to justify the carnage the create with Koranic scripture and appeals to Islamic tradition. No matter that no one other than fellow Muslims is willing or permitted to join them. None of this matters, CAIR insists. Islam is a religion of peace. The terrorists are not motivated in any way by Islam. And to even suggest otherwise is racist. Discussion closed and censored.

How then to explain the experience of FOX News journalist Steve Centanni and his cameraman Olaf Wiig, recently kidnapped and released by a Palestinian spliter group?

Two Fox News journalists released after 12 days as prisoners of Palestinian militants in Gaza were forced by their captors to convert to Islam.

A video tape showing Steve Centanni, from the United States, and Olaf Wiig, of New Zealand, being forced to convert at gunpoint was released just hours before the men were let go, The Times of London reported Monday. The men had been deployed to report on Israel's incursions into Gaza.

"It was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns and we didn't know what the hell was going on," Centanni said.

Nope. Clearly it has nothing to do with Islam. Not a thing. Definitely, a religion of peace and tolerance.