They are really different kinds of religions. Islam (means "surrender [to God]", as many of you know) is very much convicted to the good of the ummah. Their entire government and ruling system is tied in with religion, and always has been. Whereas in the past certain leaders were partial to one religion or another, in Islam it's plain and simple, a theocracy.
Also, a point Hitchens makes in god is not Great, they are a much younger religion than Judaism and Christianity. Every major religion seems to go through a period of forceful conversion/subjugation of others(Old Testament Jews, Crusades), and Islam started the latest of the three, so they're going through that period now, I think was the point being made.
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