    24

    extrem

    ist groups dedicated to violence and an absolute rejection of the

    West are small.  In addition, she claims, "The radicals do not have a

    broad base of popular support. ...Even in Lebanon, however, where

    such groups flourish, a poll of university students taken in 1987

    indicated that more than 90% disapproved of...assassinations, hostage

    taking, and sabotage of government installations."  On the other hand,

    Marr admits that "there may be only a thin line between the open,

    mainstream movements and their clandestine [violent] counterparts."

    She concludes that "the Islamic revival is not only here to stay but is

    likely to be a leading domestic political force shaping the

    Mediterranean region during the coming decades.  Despite political

    vicissitudes, the various movements loosely collected under the rubric

    of 'Islamic Fundamentalism' have shown a staying power that indicates

    they have achieved both breadth and depth in their indigenous

    societies."85

    Like Marr, Abbas Hamdani, professor of Middle Eastern history

    at the University of Wisconsin, asserts that "to propose a monolithic

    view of Islam and then equate it with fundamentalism would be

    wrong....  Except for mass followings in Algeria and Tunisia,

    fundamentalists represent a small segment, although a popular, vocal,

    and highly motivated one, of the total population. [Hamdani overlooks

    the Sudan and Afghanistan, both of which, at this writing, were in

    fundamentalist hands.]  Even in Iran, which appears to be totally

    convulsed in fundamentalism, it is a small minority that has

    monopolized power."86   As the case of Iran demonstrates, it only takes

    a minority to seize control of a country, especially if that minority is

    enthusiastic about using violence.  In Germany's July, 1932, elections,

    63% of the voters cast their ballots against the Nazis.  By the November

    elections, the anti-Nazi vote was even larger.  Yet Adolf Hitler was able

    to achieve dictatorial power only four months later on March 23, 1933,

    in part because his storm troopers--like the militant gangs controlled

    by the fundamentalists--were willing to murder their opponents.

    Khomeini's works advocate vigorously converting or murdering

    all those who do not embrace Allah's holy meme.  Then they urge a

    holy war on the nations of the West.  The ayatollah wrote, "Any

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