Hy!
I agree with most of what has been said but I also disagree with some. And most comments that I disagree with are made just because the person lacked information .... rather had misinformation. And the main source of this misinformation is the media, FOX News is an excellent example. I like to agree with JoshJ about Islam as the glue between different Muslim nations. One of the most important concept in Islam is of brotherhood. A Muslims has duties starting from his neighbours, to his nation and to the ummat and these duties connect him to other Muslims. I don't think caring for others is wrong, is it?

The spread of this misinformation about Islam cannot be solely credited to media because people as individuals are also resposible for this. JoshJ's post quoting verses from The Quran is another example. All the verses are quoted out of context and his quotation of the verse 190 of Sura Baqara is evidence that Quran does not advocate aggression. Quran only orders to defend, if provoked. Truth comes out in many ways!

2:190 Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.

If a person wants to inquire about Islam he is supposed to ask an Islamic scholor or a person who has deep knowledge of Islam not someone who hates Islam personally, and most people do ask these Islamophobics their questions. Who is most likely to give a correct answer, a person who knows Islam or one who hates it? You can decide yourself.

I absolutely can not understand what these people gain other than widening the already unrepairable divide between the Muslims and the Western world ......... or maybe they are trying to do exactly that.