The Ayatollah Ali Khamenei describes   terrorism as "loathsome, horrible" and said fighting it was "of great importance." That is an easy call to make. However, as far as the atrocities in Iraq, Muslims would not do such a thing:

"We seriously suspect the agents of the Americans and Israelis in conducting such horrendous terrorist acts and cannot believe the people who kidnap Philippines nationals, for instance, or behead U.S. nationals are Muslims."

In an article for American Thinker   I argued that the first and necessary condition for a reform of a religion is to see a need for improvement. Condemning generic terrorism is popular now. Even Palestinian terrorists do that.

But to assert that no Muslim could commit atrocities because he is a Muslim demonstrates that the Ayatollah sees not need to reform his religion. If the Grand Leader cannot see that, how can he see need for a change in doctrine or praxis? This does not bode well for the ultimate solution to Islamic terrorism: reform from within.

Posted by Jim Arlandson  07 14 04