[ACPlayer]

Well, sure you can partially blame Islam. Just as you can partially blame those who wear little checkered towels on their head. Just because there is a correlation does not mean there is blame. If there is cause it is in the socio-political dynamic in this region.

I do not make it sound like Islam has lived in peace with its neighbours. That may be a conclusion you draw. We are specifically discussing terrorism and not peaceful coexistence. Islamic countries in the middle east were in the past 500 years just as likely to fight with each other as with outsiders. That has nothing to do with Islam, but has to do with the ability of these tribes to eke out an existence in that area -- again it is economic, not religious.

To take one example from the glorious days of Islamic domination. In India until Aurangzeb (who was a despot and is considered anti-Islamic by many) the muslim rulers ruled in a relatively benign manner -- even letting the Hindus (who are not of the book and do not believe in one god) practice their religion. When the economic conditions of the rulers declined their despotism increased.

Historically, Islam is no more or less violent than other societies. We can look into our own backyard (the subjugation of the American Indians) for a violent conflict fostered by economic conditions with a veneer of religious connotations.

Further, I suggest reading history, rather than propoganda.