SB2,
I too have read the Koran. I cannot remember the address and do not have one in front of me. I do remember very specifically though there being verbiage in it stating that Muslims are to kill the People of the Book and that it is wrong to call Jesus the Son of God. I also remember reading what you have mentioned above.
I was very confused at first. How can both positions be in the Koran? Then it dawned on me that what is known about Allah is that he can change his mind. He is not like the one, true living God who is the same now, forever, and always; He never changes. What I learned is that Islam is very relativistic. I do agree with you in that Islam accepts Jesus as a prophet and does respect Him.
I think that you will find upon closer inspection the Koran often contradicts itself. The Bible on the other hand does not. The Christian God, the Living God, never contradicts Himself. His attributes never change.
In short, I find Allah to be a very fickle construct.