"Best of the Web Today's" James Taranto points out this story regarding an Al Qaeda plot to assassinate Pope John Paul II.

Taranto then makes the following astute observation:

Is this because the Vatican is too pro-Israel, or because of the troops it stations in Saudi Arabia?

Most of us get it. Arab terrorists (or "freedom fighters" in Reuters parlance) main goal isn't a Palestinian state. Their main goal isn't removing all U.S. troops from Arab lands (even if they've been invited by the government).

They're only interested in spreading their intolerant religion -- by persuasion if possible, by violence if necessary.

CAIR and its ilk bristle when Islam is characterized as an "evil" religion. They cry "racist," "bigot," "Islamophobe." But look at Saudi Arabia -- a model of Islamic society.

Total number of Christian churches in Saudi Arabia: Zero.

Total number of converts to Christianity living in Saudi Arabia: Zero. (Conversion from Islam is punishable by death.)

Total number of Christian missionaries allowed in Saudi Arabia: Zero.

Total number of Jews in Saudi Arabia: Zero.

Where Islam is the dominant religion, people of other faiths suffer. Where Christianity is the dominant religion, freedom for all faiths flourishes.