freediver wrote on Jun 16
th, 2012 at 12:45pm:
Back when Falah and Abu were still claiming Islam only spread in self defense, I asked them how they got into the Iberian peninsula (modern day Spain). They had to cross over the mediterranean sea from Africa and were under no threat from the north. Their response was that they were 'invited' by one little kingdom to assist in a fight against another, won, then turned on their previous allies and slaughtered them also, then slaughtered their way across France and into Spain. Because of this, Islam 'owns' the area and it would be self defense if they were to invade it again.
True, but their argument makes you wonder how Rome conquered most of Europe, followed by various Angles, Saxons, Franks, etc.
Because of this, the aristocracy and Catholic church still own a place in much of Europe, symbolically within government, as well as much of the real estate and other wealth.
And yes, in countries like Russia and Spain - as recently as the 1920s and 30s - it was considered self defence when they defended their power against anarchists and Bolsheviks during civil war.