Yvonne, it is just so true that "there is a wealth of information out there". For instance were you aware of the Barbary War of 1801–1805, which was the first of two wars fought between the United States of America and the North African states known collectively as the Barbary States? These were the independent Sultanate of Morocco, and the three Regencies of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, which were quasi-independent entities nominally belonging to the Ottoman Empire.

Since the 17th century, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli had been largely independent Muslim states, run by military strongmen and financed by plunder, tribute, and ransom. The monarchy of Morocco was equally well known by the time of the Barbary Wars for supporting piracy.

In 1785, the Dey (ruler) of Algiers took two American ships hostage and demanded US$60,000 in ransom for their crews. The then-American ambassador to France, Thomas Jefferson, argued that conceding the ransom would only encourage more attacks.

In 1786 Thomas Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

"The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven".

Why do I bring this up? Because the answer of the Tripoli ambassador echoes much of the contemporary Islamist view of the West today. The Islamist hatred of the infidel West precedes any of the actions that the Americans (or others) might have undertaken in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Comprenez-vous?

All re- the Bon fire of the vanities. The catholic church taught the Nazis how to book burn.

The Bible is fiction All it cannot be anything else , are you seriously suggesting that Jesus wizards, parting oceans , inbreeding Ark animals , phoenixes , assortment of sprites , ogres and monsters and man gods exist? The cat in the hat is no less credible although not malicious to childrens minds as the bible is.

The Catholic Church to Hitler; West; was the equivalent to the Useless Idiots to Stalin.
The shear population and a need to control them is what was the agenda;
Hitler was a Luddite and a Greenie; Drug addict etc; The NAZI regime revolved around ancient theology and was for the most part were off with the Valkyries.

I have not mentioned anything anywhere about bible stories, and if you think they are repulsive, then read Islam’s hacked up versions of them; good for a giggle;

My reference above to publications worthy of ownership. And I did not mention Bible stories or anything remotely similar.
Shucks, sometimes I wonder why I bother.

SNAPPY TOM...I'm hereby promoting you to the house of OLO LORDS mate.. for that inCREDibly astute and wise post about the Barbary wars....

Yvonne.. I'd say Tom.."snapped" you in the rear end on that one mate.

And... rightly so. Now..I'm going to bite the other cheek... the SOURCE for the thinking of the Tripoli Ambassador..though I've done so REPEATEDLY in other threads..only to be met with scorn.

Here it is..A-GAIN..

009.029
YUSUFALI: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Here is the supporting Hadith, conFIRMing, that no matter how many times my critics bemoan my selection and emphasis and dodgy conclusions it is nevertheless THE mindset of the Muslim World (i.e. where Islamic governments exist)

Muslim Book 001, Number 0030:
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah....

So..we have
a) Quran 600-ish
b) Hadith 700-ish
c) Ambassador of Tripoli in 1786 saying "It goes back to our prophet"

ALL singing the same tune ! and in harmony.
There are NUMerous supporting hadith in other books also.

Now.. YVONNE.. you need special treatment here.

Understanding your Enemy 101.

1/ Genesis 12 to end of book. (origins of Arabs/Jews)
2/ Fall of Jerusalem in AD70
3/ Quran+Hadith+Rise of Islam 634 onward, invasion and expansion.
4/ Invasion of Spain, and attempted of France 732, also Vienna 1600s
5/ Rise of West, Colonial Era.
6/ Return of Jews 1948
7/ Horus and Snappy Toms posts.
8/ Location Location Location "JERUSALEM"

That will give you an adequate overview. See u in a few months :)

B_D is doing exactly what Sheik Daniel Scott was doing in Canberra over the weekend - issuing fatwas based on citing verses of the texts out of all context.

Sheik Scott issued a fatwa that Muslims are required to engage in taqiyya. He translated this Arabic term as "lying" and "deception".

Ironically, Sheik Scott engaged in his own unique brand of taqiyya, claiming that he was sentenced to death for converting to Islam in Pakistan. After his presentation, I approached him and asked him (in his native Urdu) which sect of Pakistani Islam he belonged to. Sheik Scott told me that he had been Christian all his life.

In fact, Sheik Scott isn't really regarded as Christian. The two main Pakistani Christian denominations are Anglicanism and Catholicism. Ive never heard of any Assemblies of God denomination in Lahore, Karachi or any other large town or city with substantial Christian populations.

It reminded me of the taqiyya exercised by Mufti Danny Nalliah, who tried ducking for cover when asked what he thought of the Tamil Tigers.

Probably why Islam is attracting converts today is because it's wide open to interpretation. Since there is no "Head of the Church" anyone can decide the value given to any aspect of the Qu'ran, Hadiths, or Sunna. And if any one does question the intensity of your faith publicly label them an apostate and have them fear for their safety. I just read where Islam is number one choice of conversion for prisons around the world.
It wont take long for the mafias to be in full control of Islamic Community Councils. And by proxy Muslim life. Paying Jizya to the mafia for jobs, food, housing. I fear the years are going to be very hard on Muslims living in dhimmitude to the whim of the world mafias.
Not that words like dhimmi or jizya will be spoken outright. It will just be Muslims paying their dues.
I think I'd take up Animism. You can't get blood from a stone. :-)