powerclown

I would consider 2 things to be the root causes of islamic fundamentalism today: modernism and secularism.

1) Secularism, where there is separation between religion and state. In particular, the lack of it in many muslim countries.

2) Modernism, where the West - formerly subjugate to the muslims in the early centuries AD, has surpassed the muslim countries, socially, economically, militarily, culturally. The muslims are struggling to regain and glorify their traditional values and loyalties, to reclaim their lost dignity, aspirations and beliefs. The world is witness to this anger and frustration.

It is interesting to note that, vis a vis America supporting Israel as a source of muslim rage, the same didn't hold true regarding Czechoslovakian military support (via the USSR) to the newborn Israeli state in the 40s, which had the effect of saving Israel from complete destruction. The muslims showed no particular ill will towards the Soviets for their policies towards Israel at the time, nor did they show any good will towards the US, which was then politically distant from Israel.