[This is an expanded version of the letter printed in the New York Times magazine of July 25, 2010.]

Robert F. Worth's excellent, analytical, researched and on-the-spot-study report on Yemen (with beautiful photos) in The New York Times magazine, July 11), is disturbing, to put it mildly. The sign "Discover Islam" at the viewing point above Shibam, where four innocent South Korean tourists were killed in 2009, says all. We are all "discovering" Islam, everywhere. Even mosques are attacked by Muslims, not non-Muslims, and indeed, more Muslims are being killed by Muslims, worldwide, than by non-Muslims.

We read reports of non-Muslims converting to Islam and becoming terrorists. Criminals in American jails are being converted to Islam by hard line Mullahs (some masquerading as regular Chaplains and peaceful religious preachers), tearing them away from their roots and radicalizing them. Religious schools (madrassas) are churning out fanatic, diehard, radical youth eager to resort to Jihad and go to Jannat (heaven) to enjoy all the pleasures the Mullahs promised.

Suicide bombers and other attackers blasting the innocents in markets, buses, hospitals, hotels, temples, synagogues, places of worship of ‘other' Muslim sects (not recognized by "pure" Muslims), schools, railway stations, theaters, and plotting to blow up bridges, subways, restaurants, and numerous other places have become an everyday calamity.

That "discovery" about Islam is indeed scary!

The NYT magazine report about Yemen is a grim warning, if any warning was needed.

I admire Robert Worth for going deep into the subject, and taking immense risks to discover what's going on in Yemen. Saudi Arabia's money and Wahhabism have combined to create more complications and chaos that's not going to end in the foreseeable future. Tribal loyalties, deep but misguided faith in religious leaders that instigate wars against the infidels, compounded with an authoritarian ruler thriving on corruption, cruelty and divide-and-rule policy, all point to Yemen as another Afghanistan in the making.

Yemen is indeed a fertile ground for Al Qaeda of various colors and hues - all committed to Jihad against the West and for establishing Sharia law everywhere. ‘Hate America' is spreading throughout the Islamic world. This is despite American blood and money flowing to sustain economy of several Islamic countries, protecting them from more chaos and attempting to build a democratic system that will follow the rule of law.

Alas, that's not going to happen unless the connection between Jihad and Jannat (heaven) backed by money and Mullahs, and augmented by deep hatred for the unbelievers is not effectively and decisively destroyed for good.

American money and blood is flowing in Afghanistan and Iraq, and also Pakistan. Some other Western countries are also involved in the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with their men and money. In many other countries, such as India, Jihadi attacks take place with regularity and are taking a heavy toll of men and material, personal self-esteem and national security.

Another sad fact is that an overwhelming majority in Pakistan is rabid anti-American and at the slightest pretext - or even without it - the "Death to America" slogan is raised. I read a report that despite massive financial and material aid to Pakistan by the American government there is a "demand" for more. The pretext is that Pakistan is suffering because of the War on Terror and has to spend much more depriving its people of the fruits of development projects that are put on hold. It's said that what the US gives is "peanuts." [The recent announcement of $500 million for various development projects and more than 7 billion dollars for the next five years is "peanuts." Wow!]

The "peanut" complaint is a lie. Massive US aid is eaten up by the military-political elite, used against India and also given to radical elements in Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote terror.

The oft repeated excuse that all Muslims are not terrorists - only a very small number is armed and violent - might seem fine but we cannot ignore the fact that most of the terrorists are Muslims. In addition, even a very small number - even point one percent out of the 1.5 or so billion Muslims - mean a whopping 1.5 million armed fanatic Jihadists are there out to kill, maim and destroy.

That's scary and that's not acceptable.

There are these fanatic Jihadis spread in several countries and continents. There are violent attacks and killings in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, Israel, UK, Spain, Uganda, Russia, the United States, and many others. There are attacks, many suicide bombers do the dirty job hailed by fanatics as "martyrs." Most of the dead are innocent civilians and almost all the killers are Muslims - some recent converts to Islam.

Is this the kind of Islam that we are re-discovering now? And are we indeed seeing the emergence of another Afghanistan in Yemen - and may be elsewhere?