The American Campaign to Disrespect and Smear Islam.....

Newsweek has apologized for factual problems with their story where allegations of using the Muslim Holy book, The Koran, improperly in interrogation may not be true. More than a dozen anti-American protester have died in clashes in Afghanistan. The vitriol from Muslim clerics continues, however.

Lebanon's most senior Shiite Muslim cleric on Sunday said the reported desecration of the Quran is part of an American campaign aimed at disrespecting and smearing Islam.

In a statement faxed to The Associated Press, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah called the alleged desecration a "brutal" form of torture and urged Muslims and international human rights organizations "to raise their voices loudly against the American behavior."

On Saturday, Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, both allies of Washington, demanded an investigation and punishment for those behind the reported desecration of the Quran.

But, Americans don't really have to do anything at all to disrespect and smear Islam since Muslims are doing an excellent job of disrespecting and smearing the religion themselves. Murderous bands of Islamic extremists blow up carbomb after carbomb in the midst of civilians in Iraq. Islamic militants behead living souls and film it for broadcast to their more bloodthirsty fans. Saudi Arabia exports a hateful brand of Wahhabi Islam to poor countries around the world teaching young children to hate. Islamic terrorists from Morocco to the Philippines, kill, maim kidnap innocent humans in their war against humanity.

So, these people are running around the world hating and killing people.... why should they deserve respect from anyone? Do they really think that God wants them to do this? Why aren't the clerics and Muslim leaders loudly denigrating such behavior? By not protesting the killing and maiming of innocents, they are tacitly approving this behavior.

And I have always been amazed that the religion takes so seriously such slights as Salman Rusdie's book Satanic Verses or films made questioning Islam like those made by Theo van Gogh, that have caused deranged fanatics to kill or threaten to kill. If God wanted these people dead, don't you think that he has the power or will to take them himself? Is the religion so weak that one has to kill those that question it? Are you clerics so sure that the modern interpretation of God's ancient words to us is being followed and this is what he intended for us?

....anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. (5:32)

Welcome to the modern world, Islam, grow up and be part of it, OK?