And yes, there is a difference(./?) Rift Grows Between al-Qaida, Muslim Groups.
Scholars of Islamic movements and some Western policy-makers, [sic] say distinctions now must be made between hard-line Islamist organizations and "holy warrior" groups such as Osama bin Laden's terror network.It's a very interesting and informative article, though I did not agree with this part entirely:"There is a fundamental difference between Islamic groups: Most are sociopolitical reformists, others are religious extremists," said Dia'a Rashwan, an Egyptian expert on radical groups.
Hamas and Hezbollah, for example, have national agendas, he said. They want to reorganize society according to Sharia, or Islamic law.
Extremist religious movements such as al-Qaida are international revolutionaries who excoriate not only non-Muslims but also Muslims who fail to follow their views. Theirs is a holy war to spread their views among Muslims and to repel any "infidel invasion" of Islamic lands.
"Branding these two branches of radicalism the same way, as terrorist organizations, reflects a complete misunderstanding of the issue," he said.
Rashwan said the confusion was a "fatal mistake" of the Bush administration in its war on terror.Define "losing", loser.He said that to fight an enemy, one had to define it correctly: "America doesn't, and this is why it is losing the war on terrorism."