THEY AREN'T ALL THE SAME

The wingnuts talk as if all Muslims are extremists and neglect to point out how many do not approve of Al Qaeda and its methods. Even among those I would call Muslim fundamentalists, there are those who disapprove of violence. Here's a great example.

US Afghan Supply Lines Depend on Islamic Militant
By Saeed Shah
McClatchy Newspapers
Friday 25 April 2008

Bara, Pakistan - The only thing standing between Pakistan's Taliban and the lifeline for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan may be an Islamist warlord who controls the area near Pakistan's famed Khyber Pass. In an interview with McClatchy, Mangal Bagh, who leads a group called Lashkar-i-Islam, voiced his disdain for America but said he's rebuffed an offer from the Taliban to join them.

The Pakistani Taliban, who control other parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on the country's wild northwestern border, have issued repeated entreaties to Bagh to join forces with them. A traditional jirga, a meeting of elders, was held between Lashkar-i-Islam and the Taliban about 40 days ago.

"I told them (the Taliban) that what I am doing is enough. It is the right direction. There is no need to join you," he said.

"The Taliban consists of religious scholars. We are fighters for Islam, laypeople. We don't have any religious figures in our organization."

Unlike the Taliban and al Qaida, Lashkar-i-Islam opposes kidnappings and suicide bombings. Bagh's message is more an austere one, that "vices" must end, rather than the calls for international jihad, or Islamic holy war, of the Taliban and al Qaida.