I suspect I'm different in that I grew up, as did my parents, with Muslims. I had friends throughout my childhood and now in Australia have friends, who are Muslim.

If any of you are genuinely interested read the whole link I post.
http://vridar.org/2013/05/01/why-havent-muslims-condemned-terrorism/

And Steele has touched on a major sore in the ME: Saudi Arabia. A few years ago I watched an excellent documentary from Netherlands/Belgium where a reporter went through a number of ME countries and spoke with ordinary people and government officials on Islam. The interview with the Minister for Interior in Iran was a revelation. He named Saudi Arabia with its Wahhabism as the major threat to the Middle East and the spreader of evil. Israel didn't get a mention.

And below is another link. Lastly compiled July 20 2014 providing links to condemnation by Muslim organisations and leaders.

http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_voices_against_extremism_and_terrorism_part_i_fatwas/

Just because you don't read any in the Murdoch press doesn't mean there aren't any.

Whatever political or religious flavour we are, we must stop reacting to dog-whistling. For politicians and political entities it is the easiest trick in the book to control a population through fear. Read up on Fear Management!
http://www.icct.nl/download/file/ICCT-Bakker-de-Graaf-Towards-A-Theory-of-Fear-Management-in-CT-January-2014.pdf

the total failure of the Immigration department not to discriminate against people with a totally opposite geo political view to the West has again sent the leftist in total denial. They would rather defend the indefensible than swallow their rotten pride and open their eyes to the mess they have created. All people are made in the image of God but not all cultures are equal. The fools in Europe must be rejoicing that with 50 million muslims that 80% are on welfare. How dumb can you be and still breathe. All our gutless pollies can do is say Islam is a religion of 'peace'. Pathetic.

EmperorJulian, that was very interesting about the Muslim vs Moslem. I have wondered why the spelling changed. So Muslim is a actually a euphemism in spelling.

Spindoc - yes, I'm thinking the same - just a squeeze (Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde syndrome)or at least when they feel empowered.

I came across CNN footage of the current turmoil in Iraq and this interview with a fleeing Yazidis university student, Jamil Jamir:

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/08/world/meast/iraq-yazidi-people/

Jamil says (with a surprised expression) our neighbours, Arabs, they kill us also.

This reminds me what a Lebanese Aussie friend of mine with an Assyrian background has told me. "When the war broke out in Lebanon, his father's Muslim fellow market worker who he had been friendly with told him, “we want you all (Christians) to fall off the edge of the ocean”.

Yvonne,
Go to Google Images & type in beheadings in Syria.

Poirot>> Gawd........sheesh......<<

P I love your turn of phrase.

Spindoc>>. I prefer to call them inactive Muslims. Just little bit of squeeze and intimidation and they will be activated.<<

Spindoc, I love your turn of phrase......

When you preach "racism" as policy by targeting certain sections of the community, there is a great danger that children will get the message that hate speak is acceptable.
Here in Sydney last week we had the disgrace off several youths, male students from a well heeled Eastern Suburbs school, boarding a public school bus filled with primary aged kids from two local Jewish schools. These youths abused the little kids with racist anti-Semitic taunts, including threats to cut the throats of the children.
If our leadership pushes overt racism as a tool for political gain, what else can you expect from children.
Police interviewed 6 male youths, aged 14 to 17 about the incident, as yet no charges have been laid. Good to see the 3 local members condemn the the whole affair. Ron Hoenig State Labor, Bruce Notley-Smith State Liberal and Matt Thistlewaite, Federal Labor.
My son often drives the 660 school bus and said these little kids are a good bunch, well behaved all the time. He can't say the same for some of the smart A's from some better off private high schools, who also catch the bus.