Two meaningful paragraphs from a book

The following is taken from "Inside the Wire" by Erik Saar and Viveca Novak, The Penguin Press 2005. Erick Saar served as an Arabic linguist in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. His book, from the viewpoint of a sergeant neither really praises nor trashes the Army's efforts in Cuba.

However, in my opinion, the following two paragraphs taken directly from the book are noteworthy in understanding our terrorist foes:

Before I left, I had one more conversation with Mustapha, the Syrian detainee with whom I'd had long talks about religion when I was on the JDOG team. I told him I was going. "Mustapha, we've talked a lot over the past six months, and we've learned a lot about each other," I said. "I have one last question. I want to know what you think of me."

Sitting cross-legged on the floor as usual, Mustapha smiled and gazed down the corridor of Echo block, taking in the atmosphere and the breeze coming off the ocean he couldn't see. "Basam," he said. "You are not how I thought an American man or soldier would be. You believe in God and you love your family. In a way I respect you. But you are a Kafer"-------an infidel. "You are not a Muslim. In fact, you are an enemy of the true God. If I were not in this cell I would have to kill you."

Failure to understand your foe can cause great disharmony in your life.