R0bert,

"I don't think under normal circumstances there is much reason to believe muslims will hold dearly to the nastier teachings of their faith ...."

Then can I take it that Lakemba and most of Bankstown are under the 'normal circumstances' umbrella?
Itis interesting to stroll through the shopping malls in the area and to listen in on Arabic and Urdu conversations, some of the remarks on Westerners are most revealing.
I have but a smattering of Arabic but I speak Urdu (badly) but understand it well and my wife is fluent in a number of languages including Arabic and Urdu.

For a glimpse into Islam in Australia see: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/signals-of-jihad-in-australia-have-been-building-for-years-20140924-10lhon.html
pity about that Maronite Catholic spoiling the overall picture.

Robert, I think the mantra that all the trouble in and from the middle
east is due to western interference is inverted.
After the 1920s and then after 1945 most western countries had only
commercial interests, except in regard to Israel, in the area.
It was not until they started to play up and when the Islamists
started wars with Israel and started attacking western embassies, and
such like that western intervention really got going, in Iraq then
later Afghanistan etc.

It looks more and more like, perhaps for ideological, and perhaps
genetical reasons they just cannot cope with the rest of us and that
they really are different and incompatible with the rest of us.

Bazz, you might start with this article http://au.ask.com/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat?lang=en&o=2801&ad=doubleDownan=apnap=ask.com

I don't think there is a credible case to deny the CIA role in the overthrow of a democratically elected government in Iran, they have reportedly admitted to it. The Russian invasion of Afghanistan is well and truly on record as is the early US support for Saddam in Iraq. Follow that up with the lies told to justify the most recent invasion which created much of the turmoil that opened the way for Isis. I was one of those glad to see Saddam gone but I'd not realised how poorly conceived and that action was.

Is Mise, my impression is that Lakemba has a lot more to do with the attitudes of the leadership of the Lakemba mosque combined with a bunch of poor policy decisions by government (turning a blind eye to Lebanese gangs and sorts of incidents mentioned in the article you referenced) than to the same basic religion that's not created the same conditions in much of Australia.

We are at a difficult place, I don't think it's entirely western intervention that has created the current turmoil but I also think it's unreasonable to discount it entirely and blame it all on a religion when it's clear that under that same religion countries have not always been like that. No single cause but there are choices being made by the west that both aggravate the situation and make us a shared enemy. My impression is that muslims do well enough at fighting amongst themselves that we would do better to not be the point man for shared hatred.

R0bert

'If western powers had not interfered in other countries", says R0bert, everything might have been humpty dory. That is an interesting general speculation, but let's examine specifics.

Britain invaded Iraq in 1941 to because Iraq invited the Luftwaffe into Iraq so that Germany could bomb the Suez Canal. If the Germans had closed the canal, we might have lost the war. Since I presume you would have preferred that Nazi Germany did not win the war, then I gather you approve of the "interference?" Iran was invaded by Britain and Soviet troops at the same time, because the Shah of Iran admired Hitler, he intended to side with Nazi Germany, and give Hitler all the oil he needed. If Hitler had had more oil, he would probably have won the war. Once again, I presume that you approve of allied "interference?"

Western nations usually "interfered" with unstable, tin pot banana republics to prevent them falling to Nazis, Communists, and Islamic nut cases. As a general rule, I think that there actions were commendable and in the interests of the people of those countries, regardless of whether the people of those nations realised that, or not. The advanced societies may have gotten it wrong sometimes, but at least they tried.

Those pictures you posted up came from a time when western culture was openly admired within most banana republics. The Shah of Iran during the 1960's ruthlessly suppressed Islam to try and make Iran into a European type country. Naturally, he was opposed by the mullah's and they were helped by the communists. everywhere the Shah went in Europe and Australia he was hounded by leftists who proffered Islamic nut cases to the creation of a socially progressive Iranian government.

All of the Iranians who put the mullahs into power in Iran then wanted to immigrate to the west as "asylum seekers" from the religious government they wanted and fought for.

Robert, your comment starting;
I don't think there is a credible case to deny the CIA role in the
overthrow of a democratically elected government in Iran,

is basically correct, as I am sure there was intelligence services
probably of several brands intervention in Iran.
I would point out that Iran is not an Arab country and is a long term
enemy and occupier of Arab countries.

If Islam is so marvelous why is there such a problem with their
immigration into western countries ?

Robert, your comment about the reason for the shoot up of Lakemba
police station is quite wrong.
I was told the reason was revenge for the police destroying their
stolen car racket. They were stealing expensive cars and shipping
them to Lebanon for on selling to Cyprus, Africa and elsewhere.
They were caught out by a very simple trick which I will not
mention here.

Teen arrested in raid takes aim at ‘coconut’ Muslims in fiery Facebook rants
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/teen-arrested-in-raid-takes-aim-at-coconut-muslims-in-fiery-facebook-rants/story-fni0fit3-1227347807063
“If you wear a hijab, but don’t pray 5 times a day, you’re not a Muslim.

“If you go to Jum’ah every Friday, but don’t pray 5 times a day, you’re not a Muslim.

“If you’re born in a Muslim family, but you and your family don’t pray, you and your family are not Muslim

“If you have a Muslim name but don’t pray, you are not a Muslim.

“If you are Shi’a, you are not a Muslim.

“If you call the police on a Muslim because he is radical, you are not a Muslim.

“If you think the Sharaah law is extreme, you are not a Muslim.

“If you think there is nothing wrong with democracy, you are not a Muslim. If you joke about the religion, you are not a Muslim.”