Tony Blair loves the Koran

In this month's edition of Foreign Affairs, Tony Blair argues for a passionate defence of freedom and democracy. He takes swipes at the media for aiding and abetting the terrorists, at the lack of stomach shown in the West for the fight against the jihadists, and is scathing of those who believe that if we only left Iraq and Afghan, then all will be ok.

In short it is a rigourous and impressive defence of Western values. With one curious exception. His strident defence of the Koran.

"To me the remarkable thing about the Koran is how progressive it is...the Koran strikes me as a reforming book....trying to return Judaism and Christianity to their origins.....The Koran is inclusive. It extols science and knowledge and abhors superstition. It is practical and far ahead of its time in attitudes toward marriage, women and governance. Islam led the world in discovery, art, and culture."

Utterly astonishing. Tony, for your benefit, here are a few snippets.

The Koran On Women

"men have authority over women becayse God has made one the superior to the other" 4:34

"you women are a field for you to cultivate so go to your field as you will." 2:223

that a woman's testimony is worth half that of a man - 2:282

"marry women of you choice, two or three or four" 4:3

"good women are obedient. As for those whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart and scourge them" 4:34

Why does Tony persist with this remarkable line that Islam is ok, the Koran is great, but it's just the jihadists we must worry about? Ignorance or political correctness?