Is It Evil & Wicked: Terrorism in Islam

Shock and surprise caught every American on September 11, 2001. As news of the crash of the first hijacked airliner into the North Tower of The World Trade Center was broadcast to the world, Americans begin to gather in front of their televisions. To their great shock, live coverage showed a second aircraft hitting the South Tower. Then news of an air crash at The Pentagon and rumors of the possible hijacking of other airliners that were on their way to other U.S. targets including perhaps the White House and the Capital Building. News of a third airliner had been taken over by hijackers and was in trouble over Pennsylvania forced many American to ask what was next?
Not since the Civil War had such death been brought upon American soil. Surprise soon turned to anger, then to revenge but to who was the question. Who would do such a thing to a civilized society? The President of the United States made it clear when he addressed the nation soon after the attacks that America would find and punish those who were responsible. Two names moved to the forefront Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
Sign of terrorism had been surfacing against America for over ten years. Attacks on our overseas embassies, bombing of a U.S. ship in a foreign port and murdering of Americans aboard were just a few of the telling signs of things to come. Lack of concern by the U.S. administrations over these years just added strength to those who wanted to do America harm.
As news of who was responsible for these attacks began to surface, the finger was pointing directly to extremists of Islam, a religion who had expressed itself as one of peace. Were these individuals who had taken part in these attacks including those who worked behind the scenes really acting in behalf of Islam? Had Islam allowed itself to be hijacked by extremists? Or is it indeed “An Evil & Wicked” religion?