“Intelligent Americans who are shocked and surprised at the rise of Donald Trump, a fascist demagogue who appeals to the basest instincts in fundamentalists and fanatics, should now be able to understand the rise of radical religious terrorist movements in the Middle East as well.

If, in light of the paranoia and fear in America, someone like Trump is gaining popularity, imagine a land a million times worse, plagued with civil war and mass migrations and continual genocide and carpet bombs and drones. Is it surprising that radical, messianic, violent groups will arise and even gain a modicum of popularity?

Stop blaming the religion; blame the political situation that caused such sentiments to go mainstream.”

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