[Sabatier]

In Islam the emphasis is supposed to be on submission to the will of God, in Iraq the emphasis has been on submission to the will of Saddam. Rational Moslems know perfectly well that Saddam was acting in his own interests and not on the behalf of God. Saddam did far more harm to his fellow Moslems than anyone else.
This notion keeps resurfacing, that in taking on Saddam, we are attacking Islam. It's a false premise. Saddam was a despot, an evil man who put himself before God's will.
That ugly wolf wearing the ill-fitting sheep costume is still a wolf!

[Luis Gonzalez]

"This notion keeps resurfacing, that in taking on Saddam, we are attacking Islam. It's a false premise. Saddam was a despot, an evil man who put himself before God's will."

That notion keeps resurfacing because someone is promoting it.

The Arab Nationalism propaganda machine, spearheaded by Wahabbi's, Al Yazeera, and even perhaps the French and German governments, are promoting the idea that the US is committing a criminal act by removing a criminal from power.

Are they the enemy as well?

[browardchad]

In Islam the emphasis is supposed to be on submission to the will of God

Agreed, and there is also the elemental belief that all events -- even negative ones, are "the will of Allah." Strategic losses are not viewed as a failure of Islam, but as a failure in religious intensity.

I wonder how much these religious beliefs predispose Muslims to tolerating, even supporting, their own oppression?