[NYT] The religious dimension of this conflict is central to its meaning. It is a war of fundamentalism against faiths of all kinds that are at peace with freedom and modernity. What is really at issue here is the simple but immensely difficult principle of the separation of politics and religion.
Very long, but very well written article exploring the motivations not only of Bin Laden and his sympathizers, but also those of other fundamentalists throughout history and even in America. Well worth a read.