Although I haven't read the article itself and am unfamiliar with the biases of the reporter in question, unfortunately, the conclusion that religious fanaticism is finding a foothold through charitable works is very consistent with what I know of the region.

{sigh}

You know what I'd like to see, is some radical Wahabist charities applying for funding under the President's faith-based services initiative.

Wait patiently. Someone'll try it (if not from them, then some minor/fringe/non-Western)
group will try it, either to get the cash or as a favor to the ACLU to provide a
test case.

That's my guess, anyway.

Funny, I was thinking about the US' faith-based "thousand points of light" initiatives as well. Be interesting to see what happens.

Was that faith-based? I thought it was more, um, a volunteerism sort of thing.

Mind you, I wasn't paying much attention to the first Bush, so maybe I missed that detail.

The first Bush was simply for volunteerism, and I think it was the second who was trying to make religious groups eligible for federal funds with his "Faith-based initiative."

Okay, so I was being sloppy. Sorry.