the thing which annoys me about people called Leigh is the way they always cavalierly use "they", as if it actually means something.

The author of this article needs to read up more on Islam. The "West" (Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Pagans, Mushrik, Zorostrians, blah blah blah, and even some Muslims) now know about Islam, and are disgusted by the doctrines it teaches.

Where did Christ teach about the doctrine of Jihad or Fitna? If he did, his followers would also lose friends and alienate people.

The author should stop apologising for a deranged divisive ideology and start getting over it.

I'll concede that the Western media is biased when reporting the ME, however, let's keep some perspective.
The author mentions, the "Western concept of The Other". The concept of "The Other" is not exclusively a Western idea as the author's words imply, "Moslems and Kufars" come to mind. Isn't the West,in fact, progressive, democratic and relatively, enlightened, I'd rather be the Other in a Western country than in an Islamic one.

I think the previous commenter (mac) has hit upon the nutshell. It is much easier to be the "Other" in a Western country, than it is a Muslim-dominated country.

After all, when was the last time in Australia for example, was a Muslim person murdered because they did not accept Christianity or Judaism? (for the reverse siution in Yemen see http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=3.0.3063661435)

Or indeed, when was the last time in Australia 20 Christian lawyers appeared in court arguing in favour of the death sentence for a man who had the temerity to leave Christianity for the Islamic faith? (for the reverse situation in Egypt see http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/025027.php)

The more anyone looks into the treatment of minorities throughout the Middle East and Islamic world, the less valid Edward Said's theory of Orientalism becomes. Because it is overwhelmed by the stench of Islamic supremacism which sees all non-believers as either dhimmis or people even further beyond that pale. And the Cronulla riot, is nothing more than a storm in an eggcup compared to the malelovent and often violent anti-Other practices throughout the Middle East and Islamic world.

Perhaps one might consider that religious attitudes change and what one can think of as integral to a religion is merely where it is at a particular time.

In the 15th century many Jews fleeing the Christian Inquisition found refuge in the relatively more tolerant Islamic world. Currently some refugees from the intolerant Taliban come to Australia, If they come as boat people they can be put in detention camps.

In regards to identification when George Speight and his followers occupied parliament house in Fiji and turfed out the democratically elected prime minister of Indian origin Christian groups sang hymns on the parliament lawn. Speight's coup was backed by Seventh Day Adventist and Methodist churches. I don't remember Speight and his followers being referred to as Christian terrorists. I thought that was an appropriate designation.

You'd better wake up Leigh that we are by far the worst offenders because it was the West who trod all over those countries with steel-studded military boots in the colonial days.

As a historian it thus sometimes makes one snigger to hear people like you Leigh, only ever quote recent history, making one wonder if our OLO was truly honest, it would sometimes someway suggest that us smart-arse Westerners study our history books much more.

Finally, could also suggest that with Hillary Clinton lately flirting with Netanaya, as hubby Bill foolishly did years back, sadly for future peace, Obama looks really in trouble.