Why does the U.S. love helping Islamist radicals?

[bedstuy]

To suggest that being "Islamic" is tantamount to being an Al Qaeda sympathizer is an uneducated, stupid opinion.  Once someone makes that leap, I can't really respect their critique of US policy.

[bedstuy]

To suggest that being "Islamic" is tantamount to being an Al Qaeda sympathizer is an uneducated, stupid opinion.  Once someone makes that leap, I can't really respect their critique of US policy.

I assume you are attacking people who use the term "Islamic" in its real content and compare all Muslims with Al Qaida. If that is the case, then I agree 100% with you. Unless you meant Islamic as "Islamist", in which case, yes, they very well could sympathize with the theology and values behind Al Qaida, if not the group itself.

I think there's more middle ground than you suggest.  Almost every country in the Middle East  has a degree fusion of politics and religion.  There is a sliding scale between being the Taliban and being a secular regime.  There is also a range of aggressiveness towards the United States.  Saudi Arabia is an Islamist government that is friendly towards the US.  It's a complicated picture. 

I personally hate "Islamist" ideology.  I hope it is extinguished from the earth.  That said, if a country decides to have an Islamist government, but respects their neighbors and international law, I don't see a pressing US interest.