I saw the 'old classic' movie, "Khartoum" (based on historical events) starring Charlton Heston recently.
The movie is close on 40 years old but the concept of an Islamic Jihad was alive and well in the late 19th century. The "Mahdi" or 'Expected One' (in the movie) who saw himself as an agent of Mohammed is not much different to the Islamic extremists of today. He decapitated victims and displayed his gruesome trophies for propaganda purposes. He too was intent on conquest, the spread of Islam and the 'purging' of infidels.
Not much has changed - except that Islam has grown expotentially and has a greater potential to destabilise the world in the quest of its zealous extremists to wage Jihad in the name of Allah (or Mohammed).
The film is now out on a digitally remastered DVD and is worth a look.
Time to learn from the lessons of History.
"Not to know what happened before you were born is to forever remain a child" - Cicero.
