Yet another example of anti-Islamic prejudice

We are deeply disturbed by the Oct. 6 Op-Ed piece by Herb Greer, "Crusade apologists go too far." Mr. Greer's article is a catalog of anti-Islamic calumnies of the worst sort, which are clearly designed to promote fear and hatred of Muslims. Among the more ludicrous of Mr. Greer's claims is that, in obedience to the basic tenets of Islam, Muslims view the non-Islamic world as "a nest of infidels who may, lawfully, be lied to and/or killed in order to advance the cause of Islam." Grotesque fabrications such as these give Mr. Greer's article the tone and substance of redbaiting screeds of the McCarthy witch hunt.

More ominously, Mr. Greer fails to make any distinction between "Islamic terrorists" and Muslims in general. As a result, his hysterical conclusion takes on a Manichaean and genocidal quality reminiscent of the most bizarre passages of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf." What else can one recall when Mr. Greer, who equates terrorism with all Muslims as well as the basic tenets of Islam, writes, "These killers are hostis humani generis, enemies not just of the West, but of humanity. They cannot be cultivated because their bigoted faith is not open to compromise, much less 'apology.' Our only choice is to destroy these terrorists wherever we can find them."

Genocidal pronouncements such as these have no place in your newspaper. It is highly regrettable that your paper gave Mr. Greer's venomous tract a forum in its pages, but at least what he wrote can serve as a clear reminder, as if any were needed, of the depth of the anti-Islamic prejudice that persists in this country.

HUSSEIN IBISH

Media director

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Washington