Chris Matthews Compares Bill Maher's 'Clash Of Civilizations' Argument To Osama Bin Laden's Goals

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On his show Friday, HBO's Bill Maher discussed Newsweek's controversy-courting 'Muslin Rage' cover, saying that people on the left look at the cover image and know that it doesn't reflect all Muslims.

But, he continued, 'most Muslims ' at least half of them, I think, around the world ' think it is ok to kill someone if they insult the Prophet. And that is a big problem. That is a clash of civilizations.'

Panelist Chris Matthews thought that Maher's assertion reflected, in a way, what Osama bin Laden's goal had been ' to turn, say, the U.S. against Islam (rather than simply against him and terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda) and promote a clash between two different, opposing civilizations.

Time's Rana Foroohar, meanwhile, felt the answer was for the U.S. to become more proactive when it comes to our foreign policy.

'Have you ever lived in the Mid East?' Matthews asked Maher.

'Of course not,' Maher replied as the audience broke into laughter. 'What kind of a question is that? Have I ever lived in the' I'd be dead if I lived in the Middle East.'

Matthews remained serious, telling Maher he'd lived in Jerusalem for a month and returned recently and said that he experienced both devout Jews and Muslims going about their prayers and traditions, intermingling peacefully. 'We can live together with different religious beliefs,' he concluded.

Maher saw things differently. 'Not really,' he said. 'Right below the surface, they both believe something that's incompatible with the other.'

'Well, what's your solution?' asked Matthews, voice rising. 'You don't want any of it.'

'Exactly!' said Maher. 'That is the solution.'

'That's not the solution for them,' Matthews insisted as the audience clapped for Maher's response.

Author Salman Rushdie cautioned the panel to remember that there are political factors at play behind the displays of 'rage' in North Africa and the Middle East ' something Maher essentially agreed with, but noted that such political leadership wouldn't exist without fundamentalist Islam.

'This is why we have to keep Kate Middleton's tits in the news,' said Maher, because it shows that, in the 'West,' government doesn't sanction or promote everything that appears in the news. Matthews, for one, heartily agreed.

And, once again, areolas bring us all together.

Have a look, via HBO:

• On the brighter side'

  http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/21/world/africa/libya-benghazi-counter-protest/index.html

• 'That is somewhat on the brighter side and it shows the majority, fortunately don't agree with the Embassy attack!

• ''Politically manufactured rage!' Salman Rushdie

  'Interesting.

  Mr Rushdie, with a Fatwa on his head is certainly a man on the receiving end of that concept!

• Great conversation. What amazing is hearing Salman Rushdie basically describe the Tea Party movement today. It's this cottage industry of outrage that fuels the diehard believers, many of whom are religious and who hate homosexuals, gay marriage, abortion, etc. I almost thought he was talking about the Tea Party for a second.

  Rana Foroohar was also correct in her assessment of US foreign policy that has been going on for decades. It's no wonder many in the Middle East don't trust us, as they've been oppressed by repressive and murderous regimes who have done business with the US in the past. Lest anyone forget that famous picture of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein, or the US finally doing business again with Gaddafi.

  The question ultimately becomes what do we do about it. How do we change the Middle East's perception that whatever comes out of this country is sanctioned by our government, as they have lived for many years grappling with that precise fact within their own countries. Working from the ground up seems to be the best approach, but I'm afraid we lost that opportunity during the Arab awakening. Then again, even if we were far more proactive in doing so, there's absolutely no guarantee that most in the Middle East would trust us at our word.

  It's an untenable situation that seems to have no clear cut solution in sight.

• Let's hope this leads to less generalizations of the Muslim world and a better understanding of the fractious militias and radicals who are trying to usurp religious and political power from the masses.