David W. Lincoln:
Yes, I am sure this book is very worthwhile but I don’t need a book to tell me that Islam does not respect national borders. For that matter, Evangelical Christians do not respect the borders of Russia, which has traditionally been an Orthodox Christian nation. Religion is, and has always been, a transnational phenomenon.
My point is that those nations that have progressed beyond Medieval ideas of conversion by the sword should not give up on the idea of peace. The West has a unique opportunity to be in a leadership role here and the ball has been dropped by blaming the Serbs at every turn, instead of pointing the finger at both parties and enforcing the peace on equal terms.
Of course, I am in good company when I suggest that we continue to roll the boulder up the hill. The alternative to negotiation with an intransigent foe in yours and Salzman’s world is war–a Balkan style world war. Thus, I like Albert Camus suggest that we do not give up by allowing the boulder to roll over us and perhaps, during our fool’s errand, this growing portion of the world’s population will catch up to us philosophically.
