Understanding Islam and Its Impact on Latin America

<p>In this study Lt Col Curtis Connell USAF examines the debate between those who perceive a general Islamic threat the confrontationalists and others who see a small band of religious fanatics who have hijacked Islam from the moderate majority the accommodationists. A well-researched but brief history of Islam and the various sects and key players that currently comprise this institution helps answer that debate. This question of the source of terrorism has importance to the Islamic world as it does for the United States and its Latin American neighbors. The preliminary answer for Latin America is that the United States should not be alarmed at the potential for Islamic fundamentalism but sufficiently concerned to keep a watchful eye on future developments. In fact Connell suggests that the demographics do not favor the growth of an effective radical movement. If there are too few Muslims in Latin America to birth radicalism there is on the other hand a very active and extensive native non-Islamic terrorism. The author connects these dots because he sees a latent connection to Muslims in the areas where terrorism organizations and drug traffickers proliferate. It is a potentially easy step for incipient Muslim radicals to get caught up and find beneficial purpose with these criminals.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>