The mysterious and idiocynratic Spengler, who writes for the Asia Times, is characteristically direct, analyzing jihad, saying that it (broadly defined, not simply as "holy war") is essential to Islam:

There is no Grace in Islam, no miracle, no expiatory sacrifice, no expression of love for mankind such that each Muslim need not be a sacrifice. On the contrary, the concept of jihad, in which the congregation of Islam is also the army, states that every single Muslim must sacrifice himself personally. Jihad is the precise equivalent of the Lord’s Supper in Christianity and the Jewish Sabbath, the defining expression of sacrifice that opens the prospect of eternity to the mortal believer. To ask Islam to become moderate, to reform, to become a peaceful religion of personal conscience is the precise equivalent of asking Catholics to abolish Mass.

Another interesting read – a new group blog from the Jerusalem Post asks about the Pope’s statements.