But its a war of civilizations for ISIS and Al-Quaeda, not for Muslims in general. That's how they are selling it to their new recruits and to the marginalized and frustrated in the Muslim world. Its how they justify it to themselves while they slaughter and enslave many more Muslims than they do crusaders. And if we tend to see it as a Muslim vs Christian apocalyptic struggle we risk turning it into a real war of civilizations, with disastrous consequences for everybody.

Right after 9/11, George W Bush repeatedly made the point that Al-Quaeda was a perversion of Islam, and that Americans should resist the temptation to se it as a Muslim war on America. It could be argued that this was just a cynical maneuver to enlist Muslim aid and allies against the terrorists. But I believe he was sincere, and very wise.

GWB realized, or his advisers realized, that we needed Muslims (both here and abroad) to help counter Islamic Terrorism, and that American Muslims were vulnerable to domestic racism, bigotry and violence through no fault of their own. It was to his credit that he made those comments, at least on three separate occasions, as was pointed out recently on Meet the Press. Perhaps I should revise my opinion of him.

Too bad so many of his successors have ignored his advice.