I draw a distinction between traditional Islam and Islamism. Islamism emerged in its modern form in the 1920s and is driven by a belief that Muslims can be strong and rich again if they follow the Islamic law severely and in its entirety. This is a response to the trauma of modern Islam.

You can't just read the Koran to understand Muslim life. You have to look at history, at personalities, at economics, and so on.

The Jewish connection to Jerusalem is an ancient and powerful one. Judaism made Jerusalem a holy city over three thousand years ago and through all that time Jews remained steadfast to it.

All immigrants bring exotic customs and attitudes, but Muslim customs are more troublesome than most.

The Palestinians are a miserable people...and they deserve to be.

Diplomacy in general does not resolve conflicts. Wars end not due to peace processes, but due to one side giving up.

My career divides in two: before and after 9/11. In the first part I was trying to show that Islam is relevant to political concerns. If you want to understand Muslims, I argued, you need to understand the role of Islam in their lives. Now that seems obvious.