The middle east started going hard core Islamist after Saddam was brought down. Who was president then?
Islamic Fundamentalist uprisings have been occurring for hundreds of years. Five things have really intensified them in the 20th Century.
Oil wealth. Allowing Saudi Arabia and others to fund these movements.
Establishment of Israel. Providing a focus not only on the Jews, but their Western supporters.
Russian invasion of Afghanistan. It created a massive group of trained fighters as well as an ideological structure.
Modern jet-age transportation and the rise of Leftist concepts of Globalization. Making it easier to spread the ideology World-Wide.
The Internet. Facilitating communication.
Take these five things and apply them to ancient, expansionist religious beliefs that are taken literally and that totally support subjugation of non-believers and you have our current situation.
