One of the most insidious and deceptive mainstream media practices is quoting radical Islamists (or radical leftists) as “experts” without providing any context to evaluate their statements.

Here’s a prime example in an Associated Press article by William J. Kole, promoting the nonsensical, ahistorical view that US/British “foreign policy” is somehow to blame for the global jihad: Plot Shows Rise of Extremism in Europe.

To advance this theory (which is really a thinly veiled threat), Kole opened his Rolodex and found an “expert” to opine on the matter—Azzam Tamimi, one of the most hard-core Islamists currently operating in Britain. But you won’t find this out from Kole’s article.

Little is known of what may have motivated the 23 suspects in British police custody to allegedly plot to blow up U.S.-bound jetliners with liquid explosives. But many in their middle and working class neighborhoods said the communities have become alienated by U.S. and British policy in the Middle East.

“Governments in Europe insist this is a problem of ideology, but the real cause of this phenomenon is the political crisis that is sweeping the world with the war in Iraq and the situation in Palestine,” said Azzam Tamimi, director of the London-based Institute of Islamic Political Thought.

Like the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the London bombings on July 7, 2005, “should have been lessons for everybody _ that government policies endanger the security of everyone,” Tamimi said. “The root cause has never been addressed. Unless they open a debate, the threat will never go away.”

Since the Associated Press wants you to accept this radical Islamic propaganda as a legitimate argument, here’s some context on Azzam Tamimi from a video shot on July 10, 2006 in London, raving and screaming in front of pictures of Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the Ayatollah Khomeini, calling Israel a “cancer that must be eradicated,” and praising the virtues of jihad:

UPDATE at 8/14/06 9:54:30 am:

Azzam Tamimi also shows up today on NPR’s Morning Edition: British Muslims Call for a Change in Foreign Policy. (Hat tip: wrenchwench.)

UPDATE at 8/14/06 11:05:00 am:

Jeff Goldstein is noticing The pattern in the cArPet.