The west has had an agenda in the Middle-East for a very long time.
France, Britain and Italy staked their claims on many countries in the region, including Algeria, Tunisia Libya, Egypt, Syria and the Persian Gulf.
After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, Britain and France got together to partition the Middle-East between them. Many modern-day borders were fashioned at this time to suit British and French interests. Most of these countries became British or French protectorates including Syria and Lebanon, Iraq and the western half of Palestine (the eastern half became Transjordan).
Then came the oil.
Western interference in the region, then, is nothing new. America interfered in Iran by installing the Shah. It backed Saddam Hussein to the hilt while it suited American interests and armed the mujaheddin in Afghanistan during the conflict with Russia.
It's latest foray into Iraq was an attempt to create a "new" middle-east nation that conformed to the western concept of a democratic/neoliberal state. This was envisaged to serve as a model for the whole region whereby elections and free trade would open everything up - simple.
The problem is always the same - no-one thinks to ask the locals if that is their wish. Disenfranchisement has become a way of life for generations of people in some countries of the Middle-East.
A little authentic autonomy would go a long way toward restoring the respect that the west has failed earn.

Poirot has hit the nail on the head.

However, internal constraints,
dictatorships sponsored
by the West and of course poverty and
underdevelopment are difficult hurdles to
overcome. However, these hurdles
would wane in the face of the evolution of
Modern Islamic public spheres that might
challenge religious conservatism.

To solve the problem we need to address its
roots. But how to do it is the question?
The nature of Islamic theology, ethics,
culture and law limit the impact of foreign
ideas and present barriers to the emergence of
economic, political, and cultural rationality.
The war on terrorism is not likely to end
terrorism. Autonomy - might, as Poirot stated,
be a step in the right direction.

Wrong Runner, you FAIL at logic- completely.
As I'm one of the few people to have made a clear non-interference statement to which you are obviously referring to, I in fact mean it- SE-Asian countries are free to use the death penalty, Israel is free to defend itself from terrorists, and can all expect nothing out of us in return unless we actually WANT it. It's really not hard to separate yourself from extreme binaries (and when I say "you" I mean "everyone else but you it seems").

And Belly- there IS a difference between humanitarian issues beyond non-interference and injecting our 'rights' into Islamic countries: the simple answer is that the communities that receive whatever ELSE we're offering actually WANT it- and more specifically, aren't going to wage Jihad on us for trying to "help".
If they don't want us, then one less thing for us to waste our time on.
And seriously, what LAWS another country has is NONE of our business nor our right to involve ourselves in.

Gawd.

Foxy's question didn't go far enough. It should have been "Why has religious fundamentalism of all kinds intensified?".

History often takes many twists and turns, and this applies to the Muslim world as well.
Many westerners see Islamic nations as backward simply because they do not embrace western industrial culture. However, we should be mindful of the fact that Muslim scholarship through the ages has provided much knowledge for the world.
During the golden era from 750 - 950, the Muslim Empire covered modern day Iran, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, North Africa, Spain and parts of Turkey. At this time a great scientific and philosophic tradition arose bringing together many elements including Arabic translation of Greek knowledge of the ancient world. Much of the learning was centred in Baghdad which possessed a paper mill.
Starting with Greek knowledge of science and mathematics, Arab scholars then made their own advances in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, ethics, medicine, mechanics, music, physics, physiology and optics. Utilizing an Indian idea they developed Arabic numerals and made possible the development of algebra and geometry.
In the modern era, prior to the two wars fought with the U.S., Iraq possessed an advanced medical and education system.
The Muslim world has not always cut itself off from outside influence as can be gleaned from the evidence above. However it is obviously selective about the areas of culture and knowledge that it wishes to receive.

Foxy,

Your initial discussion question:
“(H)as Islamic fundamentalism intensified…because these Islamic societies
resent the influence the West is exerting in their territories, especially the US?”

Your conclusion:
“I can't help but suspect that Islamic fundamentalism
has surged as a result of Western interference.”
(Surprise! Just as you thought all along.)

Your solution:
“Staying out of their affairs - would seem to be
a wise move.”

Wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.

Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise not only in Iraq and Afghanistan,
but also in Pakistan, India, Darfur, Somalia, Yemen, Philippines,
Egypt, China, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Thailand, Aceh, etc.
Are all these the result of Western interference?
How about the Uighurs in Xinjiang?
Why is their response to Chinese (Western?) “interference” totally different from the response of the Tibetans?
Could it be related to their religion?

How about U.S. interference in Germany and Japan post WWII?
Has this resulted in German and Japanese suicide bombers?

I see U.S. interference as continually trying to put out spot fires,
before the whole region goes up in flames and takes us with it.

Islam provides the ignition source, the fuel
and the arsonists’ justification.

CJ Grogan,

<Foxy's question didn't go far enough. It should have been "Why has religious fundamentalism of all kinds intensified?".>

You're right on the ball as always CJ.
While everybody's talking about Flight 253 on Christmas day,
nobody mentions the Christian fundamentalist on NCIS who honour killed his brother because he converted to Islam.
And then immediately afterward on NCIS LA a Christian fundamentalist blew a Muslim's head off with an IED in a mobile phone.
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/author/cjacobsen/
These also happened on Christmas day and the press is hushing them up.
It's Islamophobic.