What long range scenarios could happen w/ Islamic radicalism?

Submitted by John P. (United States), Dec 18, 2003 at 18:14

Mr. Pipes,
My Statement:
After years of reading your articles and keeping up with the news on radical Islam, I am pessimistic. I have some "distant" acquaintances who are Muslims, and during candid conversions with them, everyone of them to the man believes that if only the the U.S. would stop or be stopped from protecting Israel, then the problems of terrorism against the West will be over. They tell me that all Muslims think this way.

My Questions:
If the U.S. and/or Europe suffers some catastrophic WMD attack, or if small scale terrorists attacks became common place in western countries, would the U.S. or Western European governments finally go on the offensive militarily or will we just collapse internally? It seems that Western Europe doesn't have the will to face up to radical Muslims. Also, if terrorist activities begin to overwhelm U.S. security forces ability to pre-emptively stop them here in the states, could this eventually change our system of government?

Thanks,

John P.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

I think mega-terrorism will galvanize Westerners, including Europeans, not intimidate them. DP