Understanding Islam and Its Impact on Latin America

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.