Very amusing Rhosty; you say:

"where I've held up either Indonesia or Malaysia as shining examples of religious tolerance?"

And then say:

"One would argue that they are by no means perfect; but, currently secular and their version of Islam is both comparatively moderate and tolerant; and, comparatively safe travel destinations."

I suppose that puts them ahead of Bankstown and downtown Lakemba.

As for your "ultra tolerant Malaysian friends", I don't give a rats how they see us; in this respect the only "ultra tolerant" nation in the neighbourhood had better start being more defensive of its real secular society or its burqa-ville for us and you won't have to travel to see how Islam works, you arrogant twit

Hi Julie,

I am encouraged by your attitude. It is good to see you allow the possibility the Muslim Brotherhood might be a moderating influence throughout the region by ousting dictatorships..

It must be remembered the brotherhood were initially outlawed by the dictator Nasser and their demonisation and suppression was continued by Mubarack ... and that was a source of support from both the East European Communists and the west. It might just be they actually exert a moderating influence throughout the region and impose the will of the people.
While 62% of Egyptions voted for radical Islamists and the Brotherhood ... one assumes the other 38% voted for non islam based parties. Is it impossible the Brotherhood might reject extremism and form a coalition with those non Islamic parties?

I think it right and wiser to sit back and wait to see whether summer follows spring or a regression to winter results.

@ imajulianutter
Nice touch. But will she get it? Subtlety does not seem to be much in play down in Canberra these days.

The Western Banking Military Industrial Complex has got to learn to leave other countries alone.Egypt,Iran, Pakistan,China and Russia are no threat to us.These threats and terror contrivances are designed to subjugate us and expand their empires.

War is often used as a distraction because of economic woes at home.Let the Egyptians work it out for themselves.The USA has 700 military bases around the planet and no country is a threat to them.

Julie,why doesn't the Coalition mount a class action against all the Wall St criminals who stole $ billions of our super and savings.Now that would be a contructive endeavour instead of these non issues.

None of the present parties serve the people.

"Egypt,Iran, Pakistan,China and Russia are no threat to us."

I thought all the luvies were at the abc; just because the reds aren't under the beds doesn't mean the mullahs aren't in the cupboards.

It seems to me that those in the West who live in generally Christian democracies are very keen on the idea of democracy, except in those countries where the balance of power swings to the Muslim parties.

David