I don't know about the first question but the second question:

Also I was curious if anybody knows the Qur'an's official policy on Jihad, smiting infidels, who qualifies as an "infidel", and treatment of women
I havn't read the koran but from the verses I have seen, it really depends which part of the koran you read.In one place it says be at peace and another says anyone who is not muslim should have thier heads cut off. It depends.

I think I want to read the koran for myself. I'm tired of people telling me what it says. I suggest if you want to know you do the same. Then you can inform others, and not take someone elses word for it. Or dig up dirt on islam and then search for the other side of the arguemtn and compare both sides. I think you'll find what I 've found. It depends.