Lately I have been reading a lot about Islam, trying to fill in the gaps in my knowledge bank.

The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright is an excellent book, very readable as it moves you through the landscape of the al-Qaeda and the principals of the movement.

I am currently reading Bernard Lewis' The Middle East: A Brief History of the Last 2000 Years. Professor Lewis is  the leading expert on Islam today. His books are considered essential reading on the subject.

I am also starting through The Bible and the Qur'an by Jacques Jomier. This books presents a comparison between what the Koran says about the Bible. This book is a quick read to discover what the Koran actually says on specific topics.

Tonight I ran across an excellent primer on radical Islam and the Shia and Sunni divisions. "The War Against Global Jihadism" is written by Peter Wehner a deputy assistant to the President and director of the White House's Office of Strategic Initiatives. It is a lengthy piece but I recommend you read it and file it away.