Bernard Lewis on Islam, Iraq and Bush

Bernard Lewis, one of the West's most distinguished scholars on Islamic history and culture, has sided with President Bush and others who decry the rising Islamic threat. See the story by Joseph Pruder at Frontpagemag.com.

Lewis is quoted as saying this about the Islamization of Europe:

“We are now experiencing a third attempt to bring Islam to Europe,” Lewis
pointed out. Unlike the previous attempts that were primarily military in
nature, the current Muslim push is through migration and demography.
Freedom of expression, economic opportunities and moderate climates encouraged
Muslim migration to Western Europe. The contrast between the high
birthrates of Arab-Muslims in Europe and the negative rates of native Europeans,
who marry late and have fewer children, may finally provide Islam with the
chance to Islamize Europe."

Lewis also describes Bin Laden's goals for America:

"For Bin Laden, it is now the final stage in a three-act play. Having
“destroyed the stronger and more deadly superpower,”the Soviet Union, “the
effeminate American Empire is not a problem.” Bin Laden attacked U.S.
installations in 1998 with impunity. Americans responded with “angry
words” followed by “let’s get out of here.” This attitude began in 1983
Beirut after the U.S. Marine compound was destroyed and 241 U.S. Marines were
killed, repeated in Somalia in 1994. Bin Laden’s attacks on American
interests continued throughout the 1990’s, culminating with September 11, 2001,
when Bin Laden opened the third phase - bringing his Jihad to America."

Do read the whole article at the link above.