1700 years ago would make 300 AD... correct me if i'm wrong but didn't islam start several hundred years after that, unless you're referring to something entirely differant.

anyways, to the main point... is it really surprising that when a nation stoops to a similar level (re: violence as a first choice), as those it's trying to seek revenge on, only more crap is gonna happen?

yeah, extremists/terrorists probably aren't gonna understand anything other than violence, but really, isn't this the type of thing we learn when we're kids? when was the last time you heard a teacher/parent telling their kids... "the next time that kid trips you up, go over to him and give him a good punch in the face"...? if it doesn't solve anything on a playground, what makes people think it's gonna work on a slightly larger scale?