Most of them are Muslims.

Also, this point: “One expression of the pathology of the broader Middle East is that often the choice is between ruthless authoritarianism on one side, and religious totalitarianism on the other. Paradoxically, it is in the interest of despots of both stripes to suppress advocates of liberal democracy, to make certain there is no third way.”

Both ideas are explored at somewhat greater length in my current Scripps column.