I agree with you on the "in your face" issue dodge, but you can be in your face and correct. So I have to disagree with you where you say you fail to see Julian's tendency to pick specifically on islam, or in any case on societies as a whole (what does "that kind of society" mean otherwise?). In any case, I've not half as often seen him make a case for economic factors. The possibility that this is because he thinks it "less rock n roll" worries me profoundly. Though as you say, only Julian knows, and I for one would be glad to read an in your face comment that not only rings true, but is true. Anyway, I think Lord Lucan made a good point in a much more direct way than I am capable of.