>>>The idea that the war in Iraq was caused by Islam is simply wrong.

But the violence going on in Iraq as we speak is being caused by an Islamic extremism insurgency, is it not? Saddam is a Muslim. Irregardless if he was called a "bad muslim" by Osama, who by the way has zero credibility in my book (I don't know how much credibility he has in yours), he is still a Muslim. It was his decision to invade Kuwait. It was his decision to use mass genocide on the Kuwaiti people, and use poisonous gas against the Kuwaiti people (which by the way is banned by the UN). His government is known for public hangings, public executions, cruel and unusual punishment etc. His gov't sponsored rapes and cutting the hands off petty thiefs. Islam condones Women having no rights, cannot attend school, are killed if they are raped (it is considered 'adultery), and have to wear veils or risk punishments including death. The Middle East appears backwards to us. This is all the 'norm' in the great religion of Islam!