There's no reasoning with some people

I've always said that the greatest threat to the western world and to global security is not Islamic extremism, but religious extremism. I see no fundamental difference between Islamic extremists and Christian extremists. Both are clearly a threat to western values and to global stability. I see no fundamental difference between terrorism and wars of aggression. They are merely different ways of using violence to get what you aren't good or patient or civilized enough to obtain via the art of persuasion.

There's more than enough Islamophobia in the western world that I'm usually hesitant to appear to fan the flames. But some things are so outrageous that they beg for commentary. Condemning radical Muslim extremism doesn't detract from the threat of radical Christian extremism.

Hence, I was disgusted to read the sickening reaction to the British knighthood awarded to author Salman Rushdie. Rushdie outraged many in the Muslim world with his 1989 novel The Satanic Verses.

Pakistan's religious affairs minister Ejaz-ul-Haq told parliament that "If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified."

He warned that, "If Britain doesn't withdraw the award, all Muslim countries should break off diplomatic relations."

Sayonara!

So we have a cabinet minister from purported ally in the so-called war on terror justifying homicide bombings over a work of fiction published 18 years ago

He whined that the knighthood "hurt Muslim sentiments." If he's so concerned about feelings, how exactly does Minister Warm and Fuzzy think homicide bombings would help the self-esteem of Britons?

The left-wing British daily The Guardian reported that In the eastern city of Multan, hardline Muslim students burned effigies of the Queen and Rushdie, chanting "Kill him! Kill him!"

The cabinet minister sniffed, "The west is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism."

Why? It's a mystery.

I spent two years living in a pair of overwhelmingly Muslim countries, just as I've spent all the rest of my life living in overwhelmingly Christian America. I know that most Christians and Muslims are moderate people who only want to decent, peaceful lives for themselves and their families.

But I also know that when very devout people, regardless of religion, get a persecution complex, rational or not, there's a good chance that the resulting siege mentality will result in violence.

If the minister thinks diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Britain should be broken off because of a novel, then maybe he's right. Religious fanaticism is immune to reason.